Vols Head to Starkville to Face No. 8 Mississippi State After Back‑to‑Back SEC Series Losses

Image: Ryan Beatty/Tennessee Athletics

By Aidan Sidoti

STARKVILLE – A series loss this weekend and the Vols will be on the outside looking in for the NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee baseball (20‑12, 4‑8 SEC) hits the road this weekend for a three game series at No. 8 Mississippi State after closing a five game homestand with a record of 3-2. The Vols are looking to pull themselves together following a heartbreaking series loss to LSU at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Tennessee dropped two of three to the Tigers, including a 16-6 defeat in Sunday’s rubber match that unraveled after the Vols surrendered 10 runs in the top of the 12th inning. Tennessee bounced back Tuesday against Northern Kentucky using a 6-run 8th inning to pull away behind freshman Trent Grindlinger’s first career home run that put the game out of reach.

Head coach Josh Elander will roll with the same rotation he used last weekend. Landon Mack gets the start Friday with first pitch set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+. Sophomore Tegan Kuhns takes the mound Saturday night, and left hander Evan Blanco will close the series Sunday afternoon against the Bulldogs.

With Tennessee sitting five games below .500 in SEC play and entering one of the most hostile environments in college baseball, this weekend sets up for a crucial three-game stretch for the Vols as they look to regain momentum.