Tennessee Cruises to Opening Day Win Over Nicholls

Volunteers dominate in season opener under new head coach Josh Elander

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Tennessee Volunteers opened their baseball season with a convincing 10-0 victory over Nicholls State University. Led by strong pitching from Teagan Kuhns and timely hitting from Reese Chapman, Stone Lawless, Ariel Antigua, and Henry Ford, Tennessee jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, eventually ending the game via run-rule in the 8th inning.

Why it matters

This win marks the start of a new era for Tennessee baseball under first-year head coach Josh Elander, who is looking to build on the program's recent success and compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The lopsided victory over Nicholls also demonstrates the Volunteers' offensive firepower and pitching depth, which could make them a formidable opponent in the SEC this season.

The details

Tennessee got on the board early with an RBI double from Reese Chapman in the 1st inning, scoring Blaine Brown. Chapman added another RBI double in the 3rd, and Stone Lawless drove him in to make it 3-0. Henry Ford then crushed a 2-run homer in the 4th to extend the lead to 5-0. Ariel Antigua drove in runs in the 5th and 7th innings, and Tennessee capped the scoring with back-to-back solo homers from Tyler Myatt and Lawless in the 8th.

  • The game was played on February 14, 2026.
  • Tennessee and Nicholls will play game 2 of the series on Saturday, February 15 at 1 p.m. ET.

The players

Teagan Kuhns

Tennessee's starting pitcher, who tossed 6.2 innings of 2-hit, 8-strikeout baseball.

Reese Chapman

Tennessee outfielder who drove in 2 runs with a pair of doubles.

Henry Ford

Tennessee's leadoff hitter, who hit a 2-run home run in the 4th inning.

Josh Elander

First-year head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers baseball team.

Nic Abraham

Tennessee relief pitcher who closed out the game, recording 4 outs without allowing a hit.

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What they’re saying

“It was smooth sailing for Tennessee this afternoon in Knoxville as the Volunteers opened up the Josh Elander era with a win. Tennessee did Tennessee things, jumping out to an early lead and never looking back on their way to a blowout win.”

— Terry Lambert, Author (yahoo.com)

What’s next

Tennessee and Nicholls will play game No. 2 of the series on Saturday, February 15 at 1 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

The takeaway

This dominant opening day victory sets the tone for Tennessee under new head coach Josh Elander, showcasing the team's offensive firepower, pitching depth, and ability to win convincingly. If the Volunteers can build on this performance, they could emerge as a force to be reckoned with in the SEC this season.