Tennessee Baseball Drops Game 3 Against Kent State 9-5

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Tennessee baseball team lost the third and final game of their series against Kent State, falling 9-5. This resulted in the Volunteers' first series loss of the 2026 season. Tennessee struggled at the plate, only managing 12 hits combined in the final two games of the series. Head coach Josh Elander acknowledged that this was not the team's standard performance and that they need to regroup and improve before conference play begins in mid-March.

Why it matters

This early-season series loss against Kent State provides a valuable learning experience for the young Tennessee team as they work to find their identity and improve their performance ahead of their upcoming conference schedule. Facing adversity and overcoming challenges will be crucial for the Volunteers as they aim to compete at a high level in the SEC.

The details

In the series finale, Tennessee's pitching struggled as Kent State scored 9 runs. The Volunteers also made several defensive errors that contributed to the loss. Tennessee left too many runners on base throughout the series, failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Head coach Josh Elander tried shuffling the batting order to spark the offense, but the Vols' bats remained cold, combining for only 12 hits in the final two games.

• The series against Kent State took place from February 21-23, 2026.
• Tennessee's next game is a home matchup against Bellarmine on February 24, 2026.
• The Volunteers will then travel to Arlington, Texas for the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series, facing UCLA on February 27, Arizona State on February 28, and Virginia Tech on March 1.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.