Tennessee Baseball Hosts LSU in Series Opener

Vols look to bounce back after tough sweep at Vanderbilt

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:20pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in Tennessee orange, LSU purple and gold, capturing the energy and intensity of a college baseball game.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes matchup between Tennessee and LSU, with the game's action fragmented into a dynamic visual composition.Knoxville Today

Tennessee baseball (19-10, 3-6 SEC) hosts the LSU Tigers (20-10, 4-5 SEC) in the first game of a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville. The Vols are coming off a heartbreaking sweep at the hands of Vanderbilt, while LSU has struggled in SEC play so far this season.

Why it matters

This series is a crucial opportunity for Tennessee to get back on track after a brutal weekend in Nashville. The Vols need to regroup and take care of business at home against a flawed LSU squad to keep their postseason hopes alive.

The details

Tennessee lost all three games against Vanderbilt via walk-off, including a 16-inning marathon on Saturday and a devastating 6-run 9th inning comeback by the Commodores on Sunday. LSU has had its own struggles, going 4-5 in its final nine non-conference games and dropping two of three to both Vanderbilt and Oklahoma to open SEC play.

  • The series opener is set for Friday, April 3rd at 5:30 PM ET.
  • Tennessee is coming off a midweek 13-4 win over Austin Peay on Tuesday.

The players

Landon Mack

Tennessee's starting pitcher, a sophomore right-hander with a 3-2 record and 3.89 ERA.

Casan Evans

LSU's starting pitcher, a right-hander with a 2-1 record and 5.00 ERA.

Josh Elander

Tennessee's head coach, in his third season leading the Vols.

Jay Johnson

LSU's head coach, in his fifth season with the Tigers and 14th overall as a head coach.

Garrett Wright

Tennessee's starting center fielder, returning to the lineup after hamate surgery.

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What they’re saying

“There's plenty of time to right the ship. Tennessee has four straight home games coming up, including a series against flawed LSU.”

— Jack Foster, Author

What’s next

The series continues on Saturday and Sunday, with Tennessee looking to bounce back and LSU aiming to build on its recent momentum.

The takeaway

This series represents a critical opportunity for Tennessee to regain its footing after a devastating sweep at the hands of in-state rival Vanderbilt. The Vols need to take care of business at home against an LSU team that has struggled in SEC play so far.