This Weekend in Baseball: Winners, Losers and Those in Between for Tennessee Fans

Photo / Lipscomb Athletics / Kai Holm goes yard for the win!

From SEC domination to high-scoring wildcards across Middle Tennessee, baseball fans in Nashville and beyond had plenty to watch this weekend. Here’s how the weekend shaped up for the programs we follow—on the mound, in the box score, and in the standings.

Tennessee Vols: Sweep complete in Starkville, 7–2

The Tennessee Volunteers capped an impressive road series with a 7–2 win over Mississippi State on Sunday at Dudy Noble Field—finishing the sweep and extending an astonishing recent run versus the #9 ranked Bulldogs going into the weekend.

Tennessee’s victory marked

A 11-game winning streak vs. Mississippi State.

The program’s first-ever two straight road series wins against MSU.

A momentum-changing performance on Sunday led by starter Evan Blanco, who retired the first nine batters he faced before MSU finally got to him in the fourth.

How it broke open

Tennessee struck first for the third straight day, plating two in the top of the first—including runs driven in by Henry Ford and Blake Grimmer. After MSU cut the deficit in the fourth, Tennessee answered with two in the sixth (big two-out production again, highlighted by Grimmer’s RBI single). Then the Vols put it away with a decisive three-run ninth that featured multiple two-out hits—capping with Manny Marin’s RBI single and a two-run double from Levi Clark.

From there, the Vols kept the door shut

Brady Frederick finished the seventh with a key strikeout.

Bo Rhudy recorded the final outs to seal it in relief.

Up next: Tennessee returns to Knoxville for a nine-game homestand, beginning Tuesday night with UNC Asheville at 6 p.m., followed by Ole Miss next weekend.

Vanderbilt: Oklahoma wins a close one, 6–5, at Hawkins Field

In Saturday’s series finale at Hawkins Field, Vanderbilt fell to No. 16 Oklahoma, 6–5, as the Sooners came through with patient at-bats and timely scoring to limit the Commodores.

Oklahoma’s offense clicked while keeping Vandy’s bats in check—the Sooners held Vanderbilt to just three hits and took advantage of two Vanderbilt errors plus 10 walks.

Even with the limited hit total, Brodie Johnston provided the headline for Vandy, collecting two of the team’s three hits, including an electrifying three-run homer—his 11th of the season.

How the game swung

Oklahoma scored first with three runs in the top of the third.

Vanderbilt answered in the home half of the third, scoring two runs without recording a hit, using two walks, a hit-by-pitch, and a wild pitch to pull within one.

The Sooners pushed ahead further with an RBI single in the fourth (making it 5–2) and an RBI double in the fifth.

Vanderbilt finally caught a break offensively in the bottom of the fifth, when Carter Johnstone delivered the Commodores’ first hit. After Mike Mancini was hit by a pitch, Johnston delivered the response—a game-tying, three-run blast to center to make it 5–5.

Oklahoma regained control in the eighth on a single by Kyle Branch, scoring the go-ahead run.

Vanderbilt worked the tying run into scoring position in the ninth, but Oklahoma held on for the win.

What’s next

The Commodores (21–16, 7–8 SEC) will make a quick trip to Lipscomb on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Ken Dugan Field.

Middle Tennessee: Falls 5–3 to Louisiana Tech in Sunday finale

In Ruston, Louisiana, Middle Tennessee (Blue Raiders) dropped its weekend finale to Louisiana Tech, 5–3, after falling behind early.

The Blue Raiders were able to claw their way back—thanks to a productive fourth inning that started with Dean O’Neill’s double and continued with key RBI work from Cooper Clapp and O’Neill (including a run scored after an errant play). But Tech ultimately broke the game open against Middle Tennessee’s bullpen, pushing a go-ahead run in the seventh and adding insurance in the eighth.

Still, there were bright spots

O’Neill extended a streak of RBI production with an RBI double.

Nathan Brewer kept building his doubles total for the season.

Up next for Middle Tennessee: A road trip returns to Nashville briefly—Tuesday’s visit to face Belmont is set for 3 p.m. CT, as the Blue Raiders continue a road run.

Belmont: Splits with East Tennessee (8–4, 10–8)

At E.S. Rose Park, Belmont and East Tennessee delivered a split doubleheader.

Game 1: East Tennessee won 8–4, breaking open the contest with a three-run sixth after scoring early and building separation.

Game 2: Belmont bounced back to win 10–8, starting fast with a three-run bottom of the first, then answering East Tennessee rallies with timely extra-base hits and bullpen execution—closing it out in the ninth.

The results leave Belmont at 13–23 on the season.

Lipscomb: Avoids sweep, wins 6–5 vs. Central Arkansas

Lipscomb kept its momentum going enough to dodge the sweep, beating Central Arkansas 6–5 at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium.

Key Points

The Bisons used a pair of home runs from Jordan Thomas and Kai Holm to stay in the game after UCA grabbed a lead. Once the ninth inning arrived, Lipscomb’s defense held and the Bears couldn’t finish the comeback.

Lipscomb is now sitting in third place in ASUN Gold Division at 8–7.

Up next

Lipscomb hosts Vanderbilt on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Trevecca Nazarene: Salvages finale, keeps GSC race in focus

Trevecca’s weekend had the feel of a season-long fight: competitive baseball, chances missed in game one, and a final-day response.

Game 1: Trevecca fell 5–4 (Delta State made the timely plays after Trevecca left runners on base multiple times)

Game 2: Trevecca bounced back with a 5–3 win, including a go-ahead two-run homer by Isaac Whitaker, then held on late with closer Ryan Sweeney sealing the save.

The GSC title picture remains tight, and Trevecca’s next steps matter with only so many weeks left.

Cumberland Drops 2 against Campbellsville

Cumberland dropped a doubleheader to Campbellsville, falling 6–1 and 8–6. In the opener, the Tigers broke things open with a three-run fourth and limited the Phoenix to just two hits. Cumberland bounced back in game two with two home runs from Then, including a three-run shot in a five-run second—but Campbellsville rallied late to secure the split in the series.

Tennessee Tech gets one versus UT Martin

Tennessee Tech saved the weekend with a dramatic 18–16 win over UT Martin in the series finale. The Golden Eagles powered an eight-run fourth inning and leaned on standout performances from Landon Smelser (4-for-5, HR), Jorsixt Jimenez (two homers, four RBI), and Nash Crowell. Despite UT Martin’s late surge, Tech’s pitching staff held on to avoid the sweep and carry momentum forward.

Austin Peay loses Sunday after a dramatic rally

Austin Peay dropped game two of its weekend set to North Alabama, 13–12, even after rallying with five runs in the ninth. Ray Velazquez’s two-run homer gave the Governors an early lead, but North Alabama answered with timely power and extended its advantage. Austin Peay closed to within one late—thanks to a pair of long balls and timely extra-base hitting—but the Lions held on for the one-run win.