Vols Re-Enter Top 25 at No. 24 After Series Win Over Alabama

Image: Ryan Beatty/Tennessee Athletics

By Aidan Sidoti

KNOXVILLE – It’s been a minute since the Box Office Vols cracked the Baseball America Top 25, but after taking two of three from Alabama at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, Tennessee is back in the rankings at No. 24 as the regular season enters its final month.

The weekend started off anything but smoothly. Game 1 was one of Tennessee’s most frustrating outings of the year, as the Vols handed out 16 free passes to Crimson Tide hitters with 10 walks and 6 hit batters in a 12-8 loss Thursday night.

With storms moving into Knoxville on Saturday, the two teams shifted to a Friday doubleheader, and Tennessee responded with its best day of baseball this season.

In the opener, sophomore right-hander Tegan Kuhns was absolutely nails once again. After moving back into the starting rotation, Kuhns threw his first complete game shutout, working 8 innings of three-hit ball with 9 strikeouts and just one walk as Tennessee run-ruled Alabama 10-0.

The bats stayed hot in the rubber match. Rice transfer Blaine Brown stole the spotlight, going 3-3 with two home runs and 4 RBIs as Tennessee rolled to an 11-4 victory to clinch the series. Freshman Trent Grindlinger continued his surge at the plate, finishing 3-5 with a home run and 3 RBIs.

Tennessee now closes out its nine-game homestand Tuesday night against West Georgia with first pitch set for 6 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ before heading to Lexington for a three-game series at Kentucky beginning Friday evening.