BSB PREVIEW: Vols Return Home to Battle Governors

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee will look to rebound from a disappointing weekend in Nashville as it returns to the friendly confines of Lindsey Nelson Stadium for four games this week, starting with an in-state battle against Austin Peay on Tuesday night at 6 p.m.

THE NEW LINDSEY NELSON STADIUM

The new Lindsey Nelson Stadium now has the amenities to match its elite environment after undergoing a $100-plus million renovation to transform it into one of the nation’s finest facilities. The updated capacity for Lindsey Nelson Stadium is 8,012 after the newly added premium seating areas and additional standing room only spaces.

The following is a list of new amenities that will be in place at Lindsey Nelson Stadium for the 2026 season:
– NEW: Home plate entrance and plaza area
– NEW: Left field plaza entrance
– NEW: Third level suites and club space
– NEW: Additional chairback seats under a new mezzanine level
– NEW: First base line restrooms and concessions
– NEW: Left field bar on main concourse (behind the current 4Topps section)
– NEW: Kitchen, which will enhance the food offerings throughout Lindsey Nelson Stadium
– NEW: Ticket office and team merchandise shop inside the main entrance
– NEW: Player entry corridor
– NEW: Third base line restrooms, a mother’s room and concessions which will open around SEC play
– NEW: Multiple elevators
– NEW: Permanent, programmable LED and stadium lighting
– Fully completed mezzanine level with a new press box and broadcast booths
– Renovated concessions on main concourse behind home plate
– MVP Room expansion

GAMEDAY INFO

Fans are encouraged to check the Tennessee Baseball Gameday Central page prior to each game for the most updated info in regards to parking, stadium policies, stadium entry points and more.

PROMOTIONS & GIVEAWAYS

All upcoming promotions for all home games during the season can be found HERE.

TICKET INFORMATION

Single-game tickets for non-conference home games can be purchased through AllVols.com.

BROADCAST INFO

Tuesday’s contest against the Governors will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app with Zack Nelson (PxP) and VFL Redmond Walsh (analyst) on the call.

Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the action on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990), as well via a free audio stream on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.

SERIES HISTORY

Vols vs. Austin Peay
Overall: UT leads, 23-4
in Knoxville: UT leads, 20-4
in Clarksville: UT leads, 2-0
at Neutral Sites: UT leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: May 9, 2023 (W, 9-4 in Knoxville)

This will mark the first meeting between the two Volunteer State foes since 2023. The Big Orange have won six straight in the series dating back to 2014, with three of those games being decided by three runs or fewer.

NOTABLE

Continuing Midweek Success
The Big Orange have been dominant in midweek games since Elander joined the staff in 2018, having compiled an 84-11 record in such contests during that span. Tennessee is off to a 7-0 start in midweeks this season after winning in dramatic fashion last Tuesday against USC Upstate. Blake Grimmer hit a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to lift UT to a 4-2 victory.

Grindlinger Getting it Done
True freshman Trent Grindlinger has been a breath of fresh air for the Vols in his limited opportunities this season and is likely to see more playing time as the year progresses. The Cali kid is batting .500 with an 1.181 OPS in 24 at-bats this season to go along with nine RBIs after driving in five runs on three hits off the bench in Sunday’s series finale at Vanderbilt.

Need Outs? We’ve Got an App for That
Another true freshman who has been a standout for Tennessee this season is Cam Appenzeller. The Ieft-handed pitcher has been lights out all year long and has yet to allow a run in conference play, tossing 13.1 shutout innings with 13 strikeouts and just one walk allowed in three appearances against Georgia, Missouri and Vanderbilt.

Appenzeller was the driving force behind UT’s game-two win over Missouri, posting 4.2 scoreless innings of relief against the Tigers, allowing just two hits while striking out a career-best seven batters to earn his first SEC victory. He entered the game with the bases loaded and nobody out in the top of the fifth inning and retired the next three batters in order to get the Vols out of the jam unscathed.

The Chatham, Illinois, native followed that performance with a career-high six shutout innings last Saturday at Vanderbilt, holding the powerful Commodores’ lineup to just four hits.

Home Cooking
Tennessee will hope playing four games at home this week proves to be a recipe for success. The Vols are 15-4 when playing in Knoxville this season and have been one of the nation’s best at home this decade, posting an impressive 201-39 (.838) record at Lindsey Nelson Stadium since 2020.

OPPONENT SCOUT

Austin Peay Governors (14-14, 5-4 ASUN)

• 2025 Record: 45-14 (26-4 ASUN)
• 2025 Postseason: N/A
• 2026 Big South Preseason Poll: 1^st (Gold Division)
• Head Coach: Roland Fanning
  • Overall Record: 120-81 (4^th year)
  • Record at Austin Peay: Same
• Preseason All-Conference Selections (5):
  • SP Cody Airington, C Trevor Conley, 1B Cole Johnson, 2B Kyler Proctor, 3B Ray Velazquez

The Governors had a record-breaking season in 2025 in which they posted a program-best 45 victories and won the Gold Division in the Atlantic Sun before coming up short in the conference tournament.

ON DECK

UT hosts defending national champion LSU this weekend. Game one between the Vols and Tigers is slated for 5:30 p.m. and will be televised on the SEC Network.