(This story was updated to include new information.)
Tennessee baseball dropped Game 1 against No. 23 Ole Miss, losing 7-4 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 17.
The Vols (25-13, 7-9 SEC) fell behind early because of an Ole Miss home run flurry, and they couldn’t put together a rally against the Rebels (28-11, 9-7).
Tennessee got a solo home run from Reese Chapman in the first inning. But Ole Miss answered with three home runs in the first three innings, putting the Vols in catch-up mode.
UT starter Landon Mack (3-3) never had a disastrous inning, but he was scored on in four straight frames. He tossed 104 pitches in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed six runs on seven hits, struck out five, walked two and hit two batters.
Ole Miss led 7-2 into the seventh inning, but Jay Abernathy blasted a two-run home run to keep the Vols in it. However, that’s as close as they got.
Ole Miss starter Hunter Elliott (4-1) earned the win. He allowed three runs on six hits in six innings. Abernathy and Henry Ford led UT with two hits each.
The start time for Game 2 on April 18 (4 p.m., SEC Network+) has been moved up two hours due to the threat of potential inclement weather.
Tennessee right-hander Tegan Kuhns (2-3, 3.77 ERA) and Ole Miss right-hander Cade Townsend (3-1, 2.02 ERA) will start on the mound.
Here are the highlights from Game 1 of the series.
Tennessee baseball vs. Ole Miss live updates
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Levi Clark hit a leadoff single. Then Jay Abernathy lined a 2-1 pitch over the right-field wall for a two-run home run. It was Abernathy’s second homer of the season, cutting the Ole Miss lead to 7-4.
Tennessee mistakes helped Ole Miss add another run in the top of the seventh inning. Judd Utermark reached on a fielding error by second baseman Jay Abernathy, and then he advanced to second base on a passed ball. With two outs, Hayden Federico singled to center field to score Utermark. That stretched the Ole Miss lead to 7-2.
Tennessee starting pitcher Landon Mack was pulled with one out in the fifth inning. Right-handed reliever Nic Abraham replaced him and finished off the frame.
Mack tossed 104 pitches in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed six runs on seven hits, struck out five, walked two and hit two batters.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Tennessee manufactured a run. Jay Abernathy hit a leadoff single. Garrett Wright was hit by a pitch. With one out, Henry Ford blooped a single into shallow left field, which scored the speedy Abernathy from second base. The Vols cut into the Ole Miss lead at 6-2.
Ole Miss picked up two more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Judd Utermark was hit by a pitch. Will Furniss doubled down the left-field line. Hayden Federico hit an RBI single into right field. Owen Paino grounded into double play, which scored another run. That put Ole Miss ahead 6-1.
UT starter Landon Mack gave up a leadoff single to Owen Paino in the top of the fourth inning, and he walked another batter. With two outs, Dom Decker singled to left field to score Paino to stretch the Ole Miss lead to 4-1.
The third and fourth home runs of the game put Ole Miss ahead 3-1 in the top of the third inning. Tristan Bissetta blasted a long home run to right-center field. Judd Utermark then pushed the next pitch down the right-field line for an opposite-field solo home run.
Hayden Federico evened the score at 1-1 with a solo home run in the top of the second inning.
Tennessee got on the board first. With one out in the bottom of the first inning, Reese Chapman turned on a 1-2 pitch and lined it over the right-field wall for his fifth home run of the season. It gave Tennessee a 1-0 lead.
What channel is Tennessee baseball vs. Ole Miss on today?
- TV channel: SEC Network+
- Live stream: ESPN app
Tennessee baseball vs. Ole Miss game times
- Game 2: April 18 (6 p.m. ET)
- Game 3: April 19 (1 p.m. ET)
Tennessee baseball vs. Ole Miss probable pitchers
- Tennessee: RHP Tegan Kuhns (2-3, 3.77 ERA); LHP Evan Blanco (3-2, 3.67 ERA)
- Ole Miss: RHP Cade Townsend (3-1, 2.02 ERA); RHP Taylor Rabe (3-1, 3.16 ERA)
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee beat reporter. Email [email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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