Tennessee Baseball Swept by Vanderbilt After Third Straight Walk-Off Loss

The Vols' pitching and defense struggled as Vanderbilt rallied for a 16-15 win in the series finale.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 9:35pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Tennessee baseball was swept by Vanderbilt after suffering a third straight walk-off loss, falling 16-15 in the series finale. The Vols' pitching and defense unraveled as Vanderbilt rallied late, with a two-run single in the 9th inning and a walk-off grand slam in the 10th sealing the defeat.

Why it matters

The sweep drops Tennessee to 0-3 in SEC play, a disappointing start for a team that had high expectations coming into the season. The Vols' struggles on the mound and in the field exposed weaknesses that will need to be addressed if they hope to contend in the competitive SEC.

The details

Tennessee jumped out to a 15-10 lead in the 9th inning, but the Vanderbilt bullpen was able to hold the Vols in check. Mark Hindy and Brayden Krenzel were unable to close out the game, as Hindy allowed a two-run single and Krenzel gave up a walk-off grand slam to pinch-hitter Tommy Goodin.

  • Tennessee starter Evan Blanco gave up nine runs (six earned) in three innings.
  • Sophomore Nic Abraham pitched 5.1 strong innings in relief before struggling in the 9th.
  • Tennessee took a 15-10 lead in the top of the 9th inning.

The players

Evan Blanco

Tennessee starting pitcher who struggled, giving up nine runs (six earned) in three innings.

Nic Abraham

Sophomore right-hander who pitched 5.1 strong innings in relief before faltering in the 9th.

Mark Hindy

Senior left-handed transfer brought in to help in tight situations, but allowed a two-run single in the 9th.

Brayden Krenzel

Sophomore reliever who hit a batter and gave up the walk-off grand slam in the 10th.

Tommy Goodin

Vanderbilt pinch-hitter who hit the game-winning grand slam in the 10th inning.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's a gutting, gutting game. Tough, tough weekend. And our guys just need to get back off the mat. There's plenty of conference play left, and we can talk about being in these games, but you got a five-run lead in the ninth – you got to attack the strike zone and go do it.”

— Tony Elander, Tennessee Baseball Head Coach

What’s next

Tennessee will look to bounce back when they host Austin Peay on Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

This series sweep highlights the need for Tennessee to shore up its pitching and defense if they hope to compete in the tough SEC. The Vols' offense showed promise, but ultimately couldn't overcome the team's struggles on the mound and in the field.