Tennessee Catcher Lawless Returns for Ole Miss Series

Redshirt sophomore Stone Lawless cleared to play after missing 9 games with facial fracture.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:18pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball catcher in full gear, with sharp overlapping planes of navy, crimson, and green, conveying the complex recovery process for an injured player.A cubist interpretation of a Tennessee baseball catcher, reflecting the fractured recovery process for an injured player returning to the field.Today in Nashville

Tennessee baseball redshirt sophomore catcher Stone Lawless has been cleared by team doctors to return to action this weekend against Ole Miss. Lawless missed the last nine games after being hit in the face by an 89 mph pitch on March 29 against Vanderbilt, suffering a facial fracture and a fractured nose. The veteran catcher has been cleared to resume baseball activities this week.

Why it matters

Lawless' return is a big boost for the Tennessee baseball team as they prepare to face SEC rival Ole Miss. As the starting catcher, Lawless provides valuable experience and offensive production to the Vols' lineup.

The details

Lawless was struck in the face by an 89 mph pitch on March 29 against Vanderbilt, suffering a facial fracture and a fractured nose. He was helped off the field and taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. Lawless had surgery last week to correct the issues with his nose. He was cleared by team doctors on Thursday and will likely see action off the bench this weekend against Ole Miss.

  • Lawless was injured on March 29 against Vanderbilt.
  • Lawless had surgery to correct his nose last week.
  • Lawless was cleared by team doctors on Thursday, April 16.

The players

Stone Lawless

A redshirt sophomore catcher for the Tennessee baseball team who was recently cleared to return to action after missing the last nine games with a facial fracture and fractured nose.

Josh Elander

Tennessee's associate head coach, who provided an update on Lawless' recovery and status for the Ole Miss series.

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What they’re saying

“He's looking a lot better. His nose, we joked he looks prettier after he got that thing fixed, and if it was up to him, he would have tried to play today.”

— Josh Elander, Associate Head Coach

What’s next

Lawless will likely see action off the bench for Tennessee this weekend as they take on SEC rival Ole Miss in a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The takeaway

Lawless' return is a significant boost for the Tennessee baseball team as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the SEC season. His experience and offensive production will be valuable assets as the Vols aim to secure a strong position in the conference standings.