16-Inning Marathon Headlines Nashville Weekend: Vanderbilt Walks Off Tennessee; Cumberland, Middle Tennessee, Trevecca and Others Post Key Results

No. 20/21 TENNESSEE FALLS IN 16 INNINGS AT VANDERBILT

NASHVILLE, TN — In the longest game in Tennessee baseball history, No. 20/21 Tennessee dropped a 6-5 decision to rival Vanderbilt in a 16-inning marathon at Hawkins Field on Saturday afternoon. Vanderbilt’s Mack Whitcomb delivered the walk-off squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 16th to plate Rustan Rigdon and give the Commodores the series win.

The Vols (18-9, 3-5 SEC) were stifled most of the day—outside of a five-run sixth inning that tied the game, Tennessee managed only five hits and failed to score in each of the other 15 innings they came to the plate. Garrett Wright paced the offense with three hits and a run scored; he was the only Volunteer with multiple hits.

Landon Mack started for Tennessee and struck out nine across five innings, walking none while allowing five runs (four earned). Freshmen reliever Cam Appenzeller was outstanding, tossing six scoreless innings with four strikeouts and four hits allowed, and Bo Rhudy followed with three perfect innings, retiring all nine batters he faced. The Tennessee bullpen combined to keep the Vols in the ballgame until the late extra-inning finish.

Vanderbilt (16-12, 4-4 SEC) got an early boost with a five-run fourth inning that included solo homers by Ryker Waite and Mike Mancini and was helped by a pair of Tennessee errors. Tennessee answered in the sixth—Blake Grimmer delivered a two-run single and Henry Ford crushed a three-run homer, his ninth of the year, to knot the game at five.

After neither team scored for nine innings, Vanderbilt finally broke through in the 16th when it loaded the bases via walks and used a squeeze bunt to score the decisive run. Tennessee left 12 runners on base, including chances with the go-ahead run in scoring position in the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th innings.

The Vols will attempt to salvage the series Sunday afternoon in Nashville.

MTSU USES SMALL-BALL TO TAKE SERIES FROM NEW MEXICO STATE

MURFREESBORO, TN — The Blue Raiders kept things simple and efficient at the plate, grinding out an 8-7 victory over New Mexico State Saturday to clinch the series. The Blue Raiders (15-12, 4-4 C-USA) manufactured runs with RBI groundouts and timely singles in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings while drawing 10 walks as a team.

Layne Akers led the offense, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a run. Nathan Brewer was 3-for-4 with a double and a run; Tyler Minnick’s two-run day pushed his season RBI total to 29 (team lead). Starter Drew Horn worked six innings, allowing two earned runs with six strikeouts, while Gavin King and closer Colin Kerrigan helped shut the door—Kerrigan struck out two with runners on in the eighth and then recorded the save after a tense ninth.

Coach Jerry Meyers credited plate discipline and situational hitting for the win; the Blue Raiders will play the series finale Sunday with first pitch at 11:00 a.m. on ESPN+.

BELMONT WALKS OFF UIC IN 10 INNINGS TO FINISH SWEEP

NASHVILLE, TN — Belmont completed a perfect weekend with a 2-1 walk-off win in 10 innings over Illinois-Chicago at E.S. Rose Park. The Bruins took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a Cavan McMeans RBI single; UIC tied it in the fifth, and the game turned into a pitchers’ duel.

Right-hander McKale Stevenson paced Belmont with six strong innings, allowing one run and striking out seven. Brooks McDonnough was dominant out of the bullpen with five strikeouts over three shutout innings to force extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th, McMeans opened the frame with a double and Brady Holbrook followed with a walk-off RBI single to left for the 2-1 finish. McMeans finished with two hits; Belmont returns to action Sunday for the series finale at 1:00 p.m.

LIPSCOMB FALLS LATE TO TOLEDO IN 10-7 LOSS

NASHVILLE, TN — Lipscomb couldn’t hold off Toledo’s big sixth inning and dropped a 10-7 decision at Ken Dugan Field. Toledo surged in the sixth with one hit and three walks that produced four runs, and later tacked on runs in the ninth via walks after loading the bases to blow the game open.

Damion Kenealy Jr. had his first three-hit game of the season for Lipscomb, and Aaron Stelogeannis drove in two runs. Lipscomb will try to salvage a split in the four-game set when the teams meet Sunday at 1 p.m.

TREVECCA SWEEPS BACK IN SERIES; SPLITS DOUBLEHEADER WITH CBU

NASHVILLE, TN — Trevecca Nazarene split a Saturday doubleheader at Christian Brothers, dropping the opener 10-7 before routing CBU 13-6 in the nightcap to take the series finale. The Trojans (24-10, 16-5 GSC) now sit in a three-way tie atop the Gulf South Conference with four conference series left.

Game two was highlighted by a nine-run third inning capped by Tyler Jenkins’ grand slam. Cade Martin homered and finished with a two-hit day, while Jenkins drove in five runs. Despite a blown late lead in game one, Trevecca responded with the big offensive outburst in game two to secure the split and keep pace in the conference race. The Trojans return to the diamond midweek against Lincoln Memorial.

AUSTIN PEAY DROPS GAME TWO AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS

CONWAY, AR — Austin Peay’s offense was stymied in a 8-0 loss at Central Arkansas. APSU starter Kade Shatwell suffered three unearned runs over three innings after a costly throwing error sparked a three-run third. The Governors will try to force a deciding game Sunday at 1 p.m. at Bear Stadium.

CUMBERLAND POWERS PAST NO. 12 MISSOURI BAPTIST WITH FIVE HOMERS

LEBANON, TN — Cumberland used a five-homer attack to defeat No. 12 Missouri Baptist 10-6. Dylan LaRue homered twice (from both sides of the plate) and drove in three; Camden Williamson homered, scored three and added an RBI sac fly. Carter Whitefield struck out eight over five innings to earn the win. Cumberland travels to Johnson University on Tuesday.

SIUE HANDS TENNESSEE TECH AN 8-1 LOSS

EDWARDSVILLE, IL — SIUE used a four-run first inning and steady offense to beat Tennessee Tech 8-1. Tech’s lone run came on an Eddie Garza sacrifice fly; Owen Lee went 3-for-4 and the Golden Eagle bullpen settled in after a rough first inning but was unable to mount a comeback. Tech and SIUE close the series Sunday at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

By the numbers and notable performances across the region: Cam Appenzeller and Bo Rhudy combined for nine shutout relief innings in Tennessee’s marathon; Henry Ford’s ninth homer tied the game in the sixth; Layne Akers and Nathan Brewer paced Middle Tennessee’s offense; Cavan McMeans delivered the go-ahead extra-inning double and two hits for Belmont; Tyler Jenkins’ grand slam highlighted Trevecca’s 13-run outburst.

Sunday schedule highlights: UT and Vanderbilt finish their series in Nashville (first pitch midday); Middle Tennessee, Belmont and others wrap up their weekend series with first pitches across the region as teams look to carry momentum into the stretch run.