Tennessee Vols Baseball Earns First SEC Series Sweep Since 2025

Tennessee defeats Mississippi State 7-2 in series finale, securing first conference sweep in 13 tries dating back to last season.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:34pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a college baseball game, with sharp planes of bright orange, navy blue, and forest green intersecting to create a sense of movement and energy.Tennessee's series sweep over Mississippi State showcases the team's grit and determination to compete in the SEC.Starkville Today

Tennessee added three runs of insurance in the ninth inning and Bo Rhudy secured the series sweep with a five-out save as the Vols pulled away to defeat Mississippi State 7-2 on Sunday. The win marked Tennessee's first SEC series sweep since March 2025 and their first conference sweep in 13 tries dating back to last season.

Why it matters

This series sweep over a ranked Mississippi State team is a major turning point for Tennessee baseball, giving the team confidence that they can compete with any opponent in the SEC. The Vols' offense and bullpen both stepped up in key moments, showcasing the team's depth and resilience.

The details

Evan Blanco (W, 3-2) earned the win on the mound for Tennessee, allowing two runs off five hits in 6.2 innings. The Vols' offense provided late insurance runs, with Reese Chapman and Levi Clark each driving in two. Bo Rhudy (S, 2) came on in the eighth inning and recorded the final five outs to secure the victory.

  • Tennessee earned their first SEC series sweep since March 28-30, 2025 at South Carolina.
  • The win on Sunday was Tennessee's first conference sweep in 13 tries, dating back to last season.

The players

Evan Blanco

The Tennessee pitcher earned the win, allowing two runs off five hits in 6.2 innings.

Bo Rhudy

The Tennessee pitcher recorded the final five outs to earn his second save of the season.

Reese Chapman

The Tennessee player tallied two hits and drove in two runs.

Levi Clark

The Tennessee player drove in two runs.

Garrett Wright

The Tennessee player reached base twice and scored two runs.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Massive turning point. It needs to be a mojo change for our guys to know wherever we go and play in this league we have a chance to be in the game.”

— Josh Elander, Tennessee Head Coach

“Credit goes to two places. One, Chuck Jeroloman is doing a great job with those guys as he gets more settled in and vice versa with the crew. Also, to the players. They are just letting it happen instead of trying too hard at times.”

— Josh Elander, Tennessee Head Coach

“Simple, toughness, toughness. He's not scared when he gets out there. In this league, if you're scared, you're going to get eaten alive.”

— Josh Elander, Tennessee Head Coach

What’s next

Tennessee returns to Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Tuesday to begin a nine-game homestand, starting with a matchup against UNC Asheville at 6 p.m. ET on the SEC Network+.

The takeaway

This series sweep over a ranked SEC opponent is a major confidence boost for Tennessee baseball, showing they can compete with any team in the conference. The Vols' balanced offensive production and resilient bullpen performance were key factors in securing the victory, providing a blueprint for continued success in the second half of the SEC schedule.