KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 21/22 Tennessee opens its Southeastern Conference home slate by hosting a vastly-improved Missouri team this weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Both the Volunteers and Tigers enter this weekend’s series in search of their first series win in league play after dropping their respective series on SEC Opening Weekend to top-10 squads in Georgia and Auburn.
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
The Center for Basic Needs is partnering with Tennessee Baseball to support the SEC Food Fight, which is a competition between universities within the SEC to raise the highest number of “points” through donations to their respective campus food pantries or designated partners.
Points are earned through donations of non-perishable food items, clothing and hygiene products.
There will be donation bins at the main gate, the porch gate in left field and the right field gate (near the student gate) at this weekend’s games against Missouri.
All upcoming promotions for all home games during the season can be found HERE.
BROADCAST INFO
Andy Brock (PxP) and VFL Redmond Walsh (analyst) will have the call on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app for all three contests against the Tigers this weekend.
Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson and VFL Will Heflin call the action on the Vol Network, UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Game 1 – Friday (6:30 pm):
UT: RHP Tegan Kuhns (5 GS, 1-2, 3.86 ERA)
MU: LHP Javyn Pimental (5 GS, 2-0, 3.52 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday (6 pm):
UT: RHP Landon Mack (5 GS, 3-2, 3.21 ERA)
MU: RHP Josh McDevitt (5 GS, 3-0, 2.49 ERA)
Game 3 – Sunday (1 pm):
UT: LHP Evan Blanco (5 GS, 1-2, 3.20 ERA)
MU: LHP Brady Kehlenbrink (5 GS, 3-1, 4.67 ERA)
SERIES HISTORY
Vols vs. Tigers
Overall: Mizzou leads, 17-16
in Knoxville: UT leads, 10-8
in Columbia: Mizzou leads, 9-6
at Neutral Sites: —
Last 10 Meetings: UT leads, 7-3
Last Meeting: April 27, 2024 (W, 3-2 in Knoxville)
The Vols have swept the Tigers in each of the last two series that have taken place in Knoxville (2022 and 2024).
NOTABLE
Success in SEC Home-Opening Series
Since 2018 when now head coach Josh Elander joined Tennessee’s coaching staff, the Vols have been nearly unbeatable in their first SEC home series of each season. UT has won all seven of those series, including five sweeps, while posting an overall record of 19-2 in those games.
Manny Making It Look Easy
After a slow start offensively, sophomore shortstop Manny Marin is one of the hottest hitters in the SEC entering this weekend’s series, having recorded a hit in eight straight games, including six consecutive multi-hit performances. Over his last 10 games, Marin leads the team with a .556 batting average, 15 hits, a 1.000 slugging percentage and .571 on-base percentage. He also had a team-leading six hits and five RBIs in last weekend’s series at No. 6/8 Georgia.
Rocky Top is Home Sweet Home
Tennessee has been one of the nation’s best teams at home this decade, thanks in large part to having one of the best home field advantages in college baseball. The Vols are 198-38 (.839) when playing at Lindsey Nelson Stadium since the start of the 2020 season.
The Big Orange finished 32-10 at home last year, marking the program’s fifth consecutive season with 30 or more home victories. UT’s 32 home wins ranked third in the nation last season behind Arkansas (37) and Oregon State (35) after the Vols led the NCAA with 40 home victories in 2024.
VFLs Littered Throughout MLB Spring Breakout Rosters
The Vols have an NCAA-leading 12 former players that will represent their respective organizations during the 2026 Spring Breakout games later this week from March 19-22.
The event, which is now in its third year, showcases top prospects from all 30 MLB organizations. A list of former Vols selected to rosters for this year’s event is below.
Maui Ahuna (San Francisco Giants), Billy Amick (Minnesota Twins), Dean Curley (Cleveland Guardians), Liam Doyle (Athletics), Dylan Dreiling (Texas Rangers), Andrew Fischer (Milwaukee Brewers), Tanner Franklin (St. Louis Cardinals), Gavin Kilen (San Francisco Giants), Marcus Phillips (Boston Red Sox), Nate Snead (Los Angeles Angels), Seth Stephenson (Detroit Tigers), Kavares Tears (San Diego Padres)
OPPONENT SCOUT
Missouri Tigers (15-6, 0-3 SEC)
- 2025 Record: 16-39 (3-27 SEC)
- 2025 Postseason: N/A
- 2026 SEC Preseason Poll: 16th
- Head Coach: Kerrick Jackson
- Overall Record: 130-172 (7th year)
- Record at MU: 54-77 (3rd year)
- Preseason All-Conference Selections: None
Mizzou enters this weekend’s series at 15-6 overall and needs just one more victory to match its win total from the entire 2025 season.
ON DECK
The Vols take on USC Upstate next Tuesday night at 6 p.m. before heading west to Nashville for a big rivalry series against Vanderbilt.
