LSU Baseball Faces Tough Road Test Against Tennessee Volunteers

Tigers look to bounce back in SEC clash against Volunteers in Knoxville

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:55pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the action and energy of a college baseball game between the LSU Tigers and Tennessee Volunteers, with the teams' uniforms and colors used as the primary visual elements.The intense rivalry and high-stakes matchup between LSU and Tennessee is captured in a dynamic, cubist-inspired illustration.Knoxville Today

The LSU Fightin' Tigers baseball team will hit the road this weekend to take on the Tennessee Volunteers in a key SEC showdown. LSU is coming off a tough stretch and will face a talented Tennessee squad that has renovated its home stadium and boasts a passionate fan base.

Why it matters

This series represents an important early-season test for the Tigers as they look to climb the SEC standings. Tennessee has been a frequent opponent for LSU in recent years, including matchups in the 2023 College World Series and 2024 SEC Tournament championship game. The hostile road environment will provide a unique challenge for the Tigers as they aim to bounce back and establish themselves as a conference contender.

The details

LSU will send sophomore right-hander Casan Evans to the mound for Friday's series opener, while Tennessee will counter with sophomore righty Landon Mack. The Volunteers are batting .273 as a team and are led by infielder/outfielder Henry Ford, who is hitting .328 with a team-high 10 home runs and RBIs. Tennessee's pitching staff has a 3.70 cumulative ERA, with 318 strikeouts in 260.1 innings.

  • The series opener is set for Friday, April 3 at 4:30 p.m. CT.
  • LSU and Tennessee have faced off in the 2023 College World Series and 2024 SEC Tournament championship game.

The players

Jay Johnson

The head coach of the LSU Fightin' Tigers baseball team.

Casan Evans

The sophomore right-handed pitcher who will start on the mound for LSU in the series opener.

Landon Mack

The sophomore right-handed pitcher who will start on the mound for Tennessee in the series opener.

Henry Ford

The infielder/outfielder for the Tennessee Volunteers who is batting .328 with a team-high 10 home runs and RBIs.

Josh Elander

The first-year head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers baseball team.

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What they’re saying

“We've had a lot of history with Tennessee in recent years, playing them in the 2023 College World Series and in the 2024 SEC Tournament championship game, and this is the fourth year in a row we've faced them during the regular season.”

— Jay Johnson, LSU Head Coach

“Tennessee is a very talented team, well-recruited with a lot of upside and future Major League players. They've renovated their stadium, and they have great fan support, so we're looking forward to it. It's a challenge our team hasn't had yet, playing a road series in a very hostile environment. I think their fans will show up, and it should be a great weekend.”

— Jay Johnson, LSU Head Coach

What’s next

The series will continue on Saturday and Sunday, with the Tigers looking to bounce back and take the series against the Volunteers.

The takeaway

This SEC clash between LSU and Tennessee represents an important early-season test for both teams as they aim to establish themselves as contenders in the conference. The hostile road environment and talented Tennessee squad will provide a significant challenge for the Tigers, who will need to rise to the occasion to come away with a series victory.