BSB PREVIEW: #20/21 Vols Gearing Up for In-State Showdown at Vanderbilt

March 26, 2026 | Baseball

Watch (ESPNU/SECN/ESPN2)Listen (Vol Network)Live Stats UT Game Notes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – One of the oldest and most played rivalries in the Southeastern Conference takes place in Nashville this weekend as No. 20/21 Tennessee travels west to take on longtime rival Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field.

MORE INFO

Game & Broadcast Info

Opponent: Vanderbilt Commodores
Dates: March 27-29
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Venue: Hawkins Field (3,442)
Watch: ESPNU/SECN/ESPN2
Listen: Vol Network/UT Athletics App
Live Stats: UTStats.com
Game 1: Friday, March 27 – 8 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
Game 2: Saturday, March 28 – 2 p.m. ET (SECN)
Game 3: Sunday, March 29 – 12 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

#20/21 Tennessee (18-7 | 3-3 SEC)

Roster Schedule Stats

Vanderbilt (14-12 | 2-4 SEC)

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The Vols enter this weekend's in-state showdown having won three in a row following a midweek victory over USC Upstate after back-to-back wins against Missouri last weekend to win their first SEC series of the year.

The Commodores are coming off a 15-5 run-rule win over Tennessee Tech on Tuesday, but were swept on the road at Mississippi State last weekend in Starkville.

GAMEDAY INFO

For all your gameday information regarding this weekend's series, click HERE.

BROADCAST INFO

Tom Hart (PxP) and VFL Chris Burke (analyst) will have the call for all three games this weekend. Each contest will be televised on the ESPN family of networks.

Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson call the action for the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990). A free audio stream will also be available on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.

PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS

Game 1 – Friday (8 pm ET) on ESPNU:
UT: LHP Brandon Arvidson (6 APP, 1-0, 3.52 ERA)
VU: RHP Connor Fennell (6 GS, 2-1, 5.74 ERA)

Game 2 – Saturday (2 pm ET) on SEC Network:
UT: RHP Landon Mack (6 GS, 3-2, 3.38 ERA)
VU: RHP Wyatt Nadeau (3 GS, 1-1, 3.27 ERA)

Game 3 – Sunday (12 pm ET) on ESPN2:
UT: LHP Evan Blanco (6 GS, 2-2, 2.73 ERA)
VU: TBA

SERIES HISTORY

Vols vs. Commodores
Overall: Vols lead, 189-170-2
in Knoxville: Vols lead, 101-62-1
in Nashville: Commodores lead, 103-81-1
at Neutral Sites: Vols lead, 7-5
Last 10 Meetings: Series tied, 5-5

A series that dates back to 1897, the Volunteers and Commodores have split their last 10 meetings overall. UT has won the past two series at Hawkins Field in Nashville, posting a 5-1 record in those games. The two sides have also squared off three times in the SEC Tournament over the last two seasons, with Vandy winning two of those three matchups.

NOTABLE

Vols vs. In-State Foes
Tennessee has had plenty of success against in-state programs during now head coach Josh Elander's time on the coaching staff. During Elander's eight-plus seasons as an assistant/associate head coach and now skipper for the Vols, they are 49-19 overall against in-state opponents, which includes a 14-11 record against Vanderbilt.

Arvidson Gets Weekend Starting Nod
Redshirt junior left-hander Brandon Arvidson will get the starting nod on the mound in Friday's series opener against the Commodores. The Dripping Springs, Texas, native has been one of the Vols' most effective relievers this season with a 3.52 ERA and 21 strikeouts compared to just five walks in 15.1 innings of work.

Friday will mark Arvidson's first-career SEC start and his third overall after starting twice last season – a midweek against UNC Asheville on Feb. 18 and a Sunday versus Samford on Feb. 21.

Big Time Bullpen
UT's reworked bullpen has proven to be a strength of the team up to this point in the season, having posted a 12-1 record and 3.41 ERA with 131 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .211 batting average over 111.0 innings of work.

Key weekend relievers Brady Frederick, Cam Appenzeller and Bo Rhudy all boast ERAs of 3.32 or lower and have combined to post a 7-0 record with 61 strikeouts and just 10 walks. Tennessee's relievers combined for 15 strikeouts and just three walks in last weekend's series win against Missouri, led by a career outing from Appenzeller on Saturday, who set career bests in innings pitched (4.2) and strikeouts (7). Rhudy also picked up his first save as a Vol in Saturday's 4-2 win against the Tigers.

Myatt Pinch Hit Master
Redshirt sophomore Tyler Myatt has proven to be a valuable weapon off the bench for the Big Orange, posting a .556 average with five hits in nine pinch-hit opportunities this season, including two home runs and four RBIs in those at-bats. Myatt hit a pinch-hit, walk-off homer in UT's series-opening win over Kent State on Feb. 20 and has recorded hits in each of his last three pinch-hit opportunities entering this weekend's series.

Laying Down the Law
Stone Lawless has been on a tear at the plate as of late. The redshirt sophomore backstop enters this weekend on a four-game hitting streak and led the Vols in batting average (.500), hits (4), runs (4), doubles (3), homers (1), total bases (10), slugging percentage (1.250) and on-base percentage (.545) in last weekend's series win over Missouri.

OPPONENT SCOUT

Vanderbilt Commodores (14-12, 2-4 SEC)

2025 Record: 43-18 (19-11 SEC)
2025 Postseason: NCAA Nashville Regional (1-2)
2026 SEC Preseason Poll: 8^th
Head Coach: Tim Corbin
- Overall Record: 1,084-611-1 (30^th year)
- Record at VU: 978-473-1 (24^th year)
Preseason All-Conference Selections (2):
- DH/UTL Braden Holcomb (2^nd Team), SP Connor Fennell (2^nd Team)

The Commodores have been one of the league's top offensive teams, especially in the power department with 56 home runs this season, a mark that ranks second nationally behind Georgia's 82.

ON DECK

The Vols return home for a full week of games next week, starting off with another in-state matchup against Austin Peay on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. UT then hosts defending national champion LSU for three games next Friday through Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.