BSB PREVIEW: #3/13 Vols Look to Continue Hot Start Against Kent State

February 19, 2026 | Baseball

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 3/13 Tennessee will look to keep its hot start to the year going this weekend against Kent State, who visits Lindsey Nelson Stadium for a three-game series starting on Friday afternoon.

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Game & Broadcast Info

Opponent: Kent State Golden Flashes
Dates: Feb. 20-22
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium (8,012)
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: UTSports.com/UT Athletics App
Live Stats: UTStats.com
Game 1: Friday, Feb. 20 – 4:30 p.m. (SEC Network+)
Game 2: Saturday, Feb. 21 – 4 p.m. (SEC Network+)
Game 3: Sunday, Feb. 22 – 1 p.m. (SEC Network+)

#3/13 Tennessee (4-0 | 0-0 SEC)

Roster Schedule Stats Notes

Kent State (3-1 | 0-0 MAC)

Roster Schedule Stats UT Record Book Ticket Info Gameday Central Follow @UTGameday Tennessee Athletics App Buy Tennessee Gear

The Volunteers are coming off a 10-3 midweek win over UNC Asheville on Tuesday after sweeping Nicholls to open the season last weekend, while the Golden Flashes enter the series with a 3-1 record after sweeping Southeastern Louisiana before dropping a hard-fought midweek contest at LSU on Monday.

THE NEW LINDSEY NELSON STADIUM

The new Lindsey Nelson Stadium now has the amenities to match its elite environment after undergoing a $100-plus million renovation to transform it into one of the nation's finest facilities. The updated capacity for Lindsey Nelson Stadium is 8,012 after the newly added premium seating areas and additional standing room only spaces.

The following is a list of new amenities that will be in place at Lindsey Nelson Stadium for the 2026 season:
                - NEW: Home plate entrance and plaza area
                - NEW: Left field plaza entrance
                - NEW: Third level suites and club space
                - NEW: Additional chairback seats under a new mezzanine level
                - NEW: First base line restrooms and concessions
                - NEW: Left field bar on main concourse (behind the current 4Topps section)
                - NEW: Kitchen, which will enhance the food offerings throughout Lindsey Nelson Stadium
                - NEW: Ticket office and team merchandise shop inside the main entrance
                - NEW: Player entry corridor
                - NEW: Third base line restrooms, a mother's room and concessions which will open around SEC play
                - NEW: Multiple elevators
                - NEW: Permanent, programmable LED and stadium lighting
                - Fully completed mezzanine level with a new press box and broadcast booths
                - Renovated concessions on main concourse behind home plate
                - MVP Room expansion

GAMEDAY INFO

Fans are encouraged to check the Tennessee Baseball Gameday Central page prior to each game for the most updated info in regards to parking, stadium policies, stadium entry points and more.

Parking Advisory: With an event scheduled at Food City Center on Saturday, FREE campus shuttles will be made available for Saturday's game and run from the AG campus parking lot CC1 to the front of the G16 parking garage. Accessible parking is available on the AG campus in lot CC1 where a shuttle will be readily available for pickup and drop-off. Fans using the accessible shuttle can take advantage of this shuttle postgame as well. The pickup point will be located by the entrance of the G16 parking garage.
Parking in campus lots C1, GF1, GF2, GF3, and GF4 is available only for permit holders. Additionally, for Saturday's contest, parking in lots G5/30 and the G16 parking garage will be accessible to those with a baseball parking permit only.
On Sunday, FREE parking for baseball fans will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in the G16 parking garage (level 1) until first pitch at 1 p.m. Please note that this garage fills up 30+ minutes in advance of first pitch.

PROMOTIONS & GIVEAWAYS

The first 500 fans through the gates for Saturday's game will receive a free baseball Smokey bobble head. They will be given out at the main gate, student gate and Porch gate.

All upcoming promotions for all home games during the season can be found HERE.

TICKET INFORMATION

Single-game tickets for non-conference home games can be purchased through AllVols.com.

BROADCAST INFO

Andy Brock (PxP) and VFL Cody Hawn (analyst) will have the call on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app for all three contests against the Golden Flashes this weekend.

Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the action via a free audio stream on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.

PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS

Game 1 – Friday (4:30 pm):
UT: RHP Tegan Kuhns (1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
KSU: RHP Ciaran Caughey (1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Game 2 – Saturday (4 pm):
UT: RHP Landon Mack (1 GS, 1-0, 1.50 ERA) OR LHP Evan Blanco (1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
KSU: RHP Easton Tumis (1 GS, 1-0, 3.38 ERA)

Game 3 – Sunday (1 pm):
UT: RHP Landon Mack (1 GS, 1-0, 1.50 ERA) OR LHP Evan Blanco (1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
KSU: RHP Ben Rabatin (1 GS, 0-0, 4.91 ERA)

SERIES HISTORY

Vols vs. Kent State
Overall: 0-0 (First Meeting)
in Knoxville: --
in Kent: --
at Neutral Sites: --
Last Meeting: --

NOTABLE

Elander Era Off and Running
The Volunteers had a successful opening weekend as Elander recorded his first three official wins as a head coach. Tennessee outscored Nicholls 27-3 and posted a pair of run-rule victories en route to a series sweep, which was the program's fifth straight when playing at home on opening weekend (2019, 2020, 2022, 2025, 2026).

Non-Conference = No Problem
Tennessee has been extremely successful against non-conference opponents since the start of the 2019 season, posting a 152-25 record in that span. UT was 28-2 against non-SEC opponents last season after going 32-3 against non-SEC foes during the 2024 season, including an 8-1 mark in the postseason.

The Vols have not lost a regular-season non-conference weekend series since 2020 (Wright State) and have swept 18 of their 20 regular-season non-conference weekend series since 2020, including 15 straight.

What Can Brown Do For You?
Few players in the country had a more impressive opening weekend than sophomore slugger Blaine Brown, who hit .571 with team highs in runs (seven), hits (eight), home runs (three), RBIs (five), total bases (18) and slugging percentage (1.286) during his debut series with Tennessee.

The Rice transfer finished with multiple hits in all three games of the series with half of his eight hits resulting in extra bases. In Saturday's doubleheader, Brown scored six runs, had six hits (including three homers) and had five RBIs. He was named to the Baseball America Team of the Week following his impressive opening weekend performances.

Brown, a two-way talent, made his first appearance on the mound this season in Tuesday's midweek win over UNC Asheville. The left-hander started the game by striking out the side in the first inning, which was his lone inning of work before settling into the DH spot, and recording an RBI double later in the game.

Premium Arms Shine on Opening Weekend
UT's pitching staff was dominant on opening weekend, holding Nicholls to just three runs on 14 hits and a .165 batting average. All three of the Vols' starters (Tegan Kuhns, Landon Mack, Evan Blanco) earned victories and had eight-plus strikeouts in their respective outings while allowing just one combined run.

OPPONENT SCOUT

Kent State Golden Flashes (3-1)

2025 Record: 38-18 (23-7 MAC)
2025 Postseason: N/A
2026 MAC Preseason Poll: 2^nd
Head Coach: Jeff Duncan
- Overall Record: 389-243 (13^th year)
- Record at Kent State: Same
Preseason All-Conference Selections: N/A