Tennessee Baseball Coach Elander Laments 'Unacceptable' Shutout Loss to Wright State

Vols' head coach calls for adjustments after 6-0 defeat in series finale

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Tennessee baseball head coach Josh Elander expressed frustration with his team's offensive performance following a 6-0 shutout loss to Wright State in the series finale on Sunday in Knoxville. Elander called the shutout "unacceptable" and said the players need to take the defeat personally and remember it when they return to practice, as the Vols have another big week ahead.

Why it matters

Tennessee baseball has high expectations this season, so a shutout loss at home is a concerning result that raises questions about the team's offensive capabilities and ability to bounce back from a tough defeat.

The details

In the post-game press conference, Elander criticized the Vols' offensive output, saying the coaching staff also needs to make adjustments. He noted that getting shut out at home is a rarity for the program and said the players need to let the loss "burn a little bit" as they prepare for their next game.

  • The game three loss to Wright State occurred on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

The players

Josh Elander

The head coach of the Tennessee baseball team.

Evan Blanco

A Tennessee pitcher who started the game against Wright State.

Manny Marin

A Tennessee player who had a strong performance at the plate in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We need to make some adjustments— the coaching staff too, because again, today is unacceptable, right? I mean, to get shut out on our home field.”

— Josh Elander, Head Coach (rockytopinsider.com)

“The guys need to take it personally. It needs to burn a little bit, and they need to remember it when we go to work tomorrow. Because, again, we got another week on deck. Hit the reset button tomorrow and keep the big picture in mind, but this needs to be some sort of change in behavior moving up here.”

— Josh Elander, Head Coach (rockytopinsider.com)

What’s next

The Tennessee baseball team will look to bounce back from the shutout loss when they take the field again later this week.

The takeaway

This game highlights the importance of consistent offensive production for the Tennessee baseball team, which has high expectations this season. The coach's strong reaction indicates the team has work to do to improve their performance and mentality heading into the next stretch of games.