Tennessee Baseball Drops Series Finale Against LSU

The Volunteers were unable to clinch the series against the defending national champions.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 3:56pm

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Tennessee baseball (20-12, 4-8 SEC) fell to the LSU Tigers (22-11, 6-6 SEC) in the rubber match of their three-game series on Sunday. The Volunteers were unable to build on their series-evening victory on Saturday, as the Tigers took the finale 6-3 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Why it matters

This loss is a setback for Tennessee's hopes of hosting an NCAA Regional, as the Volunteers needed to win this series against the defending national champions. The Vols now sit at 4-8 in SEC play, putting them in a difficult position as they look to turn their season around and earn a postseason berth.

The details

Tennessee starting pitcher Evan Blanco struggled, allowing four runs on six hits in 4.1 innings of work. The Vols' bullpen was unable to keep the game close, as LSU tacked on two more runs late. Tennessee's offense was held in check, managing just three runs on six hits.

  • The series finale took place on Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
  • Tennessee had won the second game of the series on Saturday, 4-1, to even things up.

The players

Evan Blanco

The Tennessee senior left-hander struggled on the mound, allowing four runs in 4.1 innings of work.

Jay Johnson

The LSU head coach led his team to the series victory over Tennessee.

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What they’re saying

“We just couldn't get the big hit when we needed it today. Credit to LSU, they played a great game and deserved to win the series.”

— Josh Elander, Tennessee Head Coach

What’s next

Tennessee will look to rebound next weekend as they host Alabama in another crucial SEC series. The Volunteers need to start stacking up wins in conference play if they hope to earn an NCAA Regional hosting bid.

The takeaway

This series loss to the defending national champions is a tough blow for Tennessee's postseason aspirations. The Volunteers will need to find a way to get back on track in SEC play if they want to keep their hosting hopes alive.