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Nashville Sounds players and fans made plenty of noise at First Horizon Park on July 4, turning the day into a celebration of America’s 250th birthday.

Photo / Cumberland University Athletics LEBANON, TN — The Cumberland University men’s soccer program has unveiled its 2026 fall schedule, highlighted by marquee nonconference matchups and a high-profile trip to Des Moines, Iowa, to take on defending national champion Grand View University. Last fall, the Phoenix put together what the program is calling its best season in history. Cumberland won its first-ever National Tournament match and advanced to the final site, finishing with a 14-4-3 record. The run included two NAIA All-American First Team selections, before the season concluded with a Round of 16 exit in Orange Beach. This year’s schedule begins with a slate of exhibition contests, with Cumberland facing NCAA Division I opponents in Louisville and Lipscomb. The regular season officially opens on August 26 with a road match against Bryan College. Cumberland will hit the home field early, hosting Tennessee Wesleyan and Truett McConnell over the first three-day stretch of its schedule. The Phoenix will then face three straight Appalachian Athletic Conference opponents to start the year. A demanding nonconference run follows, including back-to-back matches in Iowa against Heart of America Conference opponents. Cumberland then returns to the spotlight on September 5 against Grand View, and two days later faces William Penn University, a national quarterfinalist from last season. Mid-South Conference action begins the following weekend at home against Bethel University, the same team that defeated Cumberland in the MSC Championship match. The month continues with road matches at University of Tennessee Southern and Freed-Hardeman, before Cumberland welcomes SCAD-Savannah on September 20. The Phoenix finish September with games at Georgetown College and Georgia Gwinnett, the latter offering another chance for revenge after Cumberland was eliminated by the Grizzlies in last season’s Round of 16. October turns more home-focused, with Cumberland hosting four of its final five regular-season matches, beginning with Lindsey Wilson on October 2. The Phoenix close the regular season on October 24 against Campbellsville. Anticipation for the season will build as the opener approaches, with everyone eager to see if the Phoenix can match last season's heights.

Nashville, TN - Nashville Hot Chickens and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp left no room for comfort on Thursday night. The game ended 5–4 in extra innings, and by the final four frames Nashville’s offense went silent, going 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position while stranding 10 runners in a one-run loss. Still, one swing kept the night alive: Luis Lara’s eighth home run of the season, a two-run blast that snapped a 42-game homer drought and stretched Nashville’s hopes into the later innings. The night began with trouble early for Tyson Hardin, Nashville’s right-handed starter. Jacksonville pushed ahead with a pair of runs in the second inning—hits, a two-out walk that kept the rally going, and a timely two-out, two-RBI single by Connor Norby. Nashville answered in the third when Lara launched his first homer since May 6, trimming the deficit and giving the Sounds a jolt after a long wait for the long ball. Momentum never truly settled. Hardin managed just four innings, surrendering four runs on seven hits while striking out four. Behind him, the bullpen worked to keep the damage from getting larger—Mark Manfredi threw two scoreless innings with five strikeouts, turning the game into a late-inning test of nerves and inches. By the sixth, Nashville finally started to claw its way back. Three straight one-out singles cut the deficit to one, and when the pressure peaked, Nashville used free passes to manufacture a tie. The big sequence came as the bases loaded—then Jett Williams walked to even the score at 4–4. But just when a first lead felt within reach, Nashville stranded the moment after a strikeout to end the threat. Extra innings decided everything. Jacksonville struck first in the top of the 10th on a sacrifice fly, turning a 4–4 tie into a one-run gap. Nashville couldn’t answer in the bottom half, retiring the side in order as the Sounds suffered their fifth extra-innings defeat of the year.

Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations COOKEVILLE, TN — Tennessee Tech University is turning game day into a new era—both on the field and on the schedule—after unveiling major momentum around its revitalized Tucker Stadium and completing a major step for its athletics programs: an official move from the Ohio Valley Conference to the Southern Conference, effective July 1. At the heart of the excitement is Tucker Stadium’s west-side transformation, supported by upgrades designed to deliver a premium, modern college football experience. The stadium project is in the final phases of construction, and Tech is preparing for the 2026 football season opener on Aug. 29 against Monmouth University. “We are experiencing a renewed spirit around football,” Tech Athletic Director Casey Fox said, pointing to the stadium’s ability to elevate the overall campus and community experience. “This new stadium experience allows us to extend that energy.” The stadium’s new west-side configuration is built around expanded seating choices, including 14 luxury suites, a president’s suite designed to accommodate 40 guests, and additional premium options. For fans looking for a balance of proximity and comfort, the club level offers limited capacity seating with climate-controlled hospitality, premium concessions, dedicated restrooms, and strong sight lines. “The club level… you are so close to the sideline,” Project Manager Camden Baker said, emphasizing how the venue is engineered to keep fans close to the action. Associate Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator Frank Wilson added that the west side will house roughly 3,300 fans with unobstructed sight lines. Beyond the stadium, the conference change is also framed as a historic moment. During a ceremony in the Hooper Eblen Center, university leadership and conference officials welcomed supporters to what Vice President for Enrollment and Communication Karen Lykins called “moving day.” Tech President Dr. Phil Oldham said the move reflects shared values and renewed competitive energy, warning that “rivalries return.” Tennessee Tech alumnus, trustee, and retired NASA astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore further fueled enthusiasm through a newly released video filmed inside the nearly completed stadium. Wearing his original Tech letterman jacket, Wilmore encouraged fans to buy season tickets and embrace what he described as “the new stadium, new era.” As Tennessee Tech prepares to compete in the Southern Conference, officials say expectations are clear: build rivalries, pursue championships, and create a campus-wide football atmosphere that connects generations.

Photo / Cumberland University LEBANON, TN — Cumberland University Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach Dell Pride has resigned from his position after leading the Phoenix programs for one season, the university announced. Pride will move on to pursue an NCAA Division I coaching opportunity at Nicholls State. While his time at Cumberland was brief, Pride’s impact was immediate—bringing both teams into the national conversation and positioning the Phoenix for postseason momentum. Women’s Tennis Surges to National Spotlight Under Pride’s direction, the women’s tennis team finished the season 11–10 overall and secured an at-large berth to the NAIA National Championship. At the national tournament, Cumberland delivered its biggest statement in years, earning its first national tournament victory since 2008. The Phoenix toppled No. 15-seeded Morningside in a thrilling 4–3 upset, propelling Cumberland into the tournament’s second round. The team also reached as high as No. 18 in the national rankings during the season, marking a major rise for the program. Men’s Program Battled a Tough Road and Earned Recognition On the men’s side, Cumberland posted an 8–13 record, competing against one of the most challenging schedules in the NAIA landscape. Even with the grind of high-level opposition, the Phoenix made their mark—climbing as high as No. 19 nationally during the year. Two standout performers, Arthur Fernandes and Mohamed Bouhlel, both earned Second Team All-Mid-South Conference honors, finishing the season with the kind of consistency Pride’s coaching staff had hoped to build. Cumberland Athletics Thanks Pride Cumberland Athletics expressed gratitude to Pride for his contributions to both programs and acknowledged the foundation he helped create during his tenure. “Cumberland Athletics thanks Coach Pride for his contributions to the Phoenix tennis programs and wishes him continued success in his future endeavors,” the university said. Pride’s departure leaves Cumberland preparing for the next chapter of its men’s and women’s tennis programs and a search for the next coach to lead the Phoenix.

MEMPHIS, TN — The Nashville Sounds’ hopes of finishing in the first-half playoff picture were dashed Friday night, June 19, as they were eliminated from contention after a 4-1 loss to the Memphis Redbirds at AutoZone Park. Entering the matchup at 42-31, Nashville fell short in the tightest margin of the standings race, unable to turn early missed chances into a comeback despite a late push that nearly changed the outcome. Memphis struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Redbirds strung together three straight singles off starting pitcher Garrett Stallings, then weathered the early momentum swing to limit Nashville to just one run. The Sounds struggled to gain traction through the middle innings. Nashville was blanked for the first four innings, collecting only a single hit while repeatedly coming up empty with runners in scoring position. The breakthrough finally arrived in the top of the fifth, when Eddys Leonard drew a leadoff walk and Ethan Murray followed with a hit to left to put the potential tying run into scoring position. After a forceout trimmed the momentum, the inning reloaded. Greg Jones walked to load the bases, and Luis Lara delivered an RBI single into left field, scoring Murray to tie the game 1-1—the kind of swing that kept Nashville within reach. But Memphis responded in the bottom of the sixth. Stallings ran into trouble, issuing a hit-by-pitch, followed by a single and a walk to load the bases. Bligh Madris then drove in a run with an RBI single, giving Memphis a 2-1 lead. A double play helped briefly stabilize the inning, and Nashville managed to prevent further damage—until the Redbirds added to their advantage later. In the bottom of the eighth, Memphis stretched the score when Jake Woodford surrendered a two-run homer, making it 4-1. That cushion proved critical. Nashville threatened again in the top of the ninth. Matos delivered a one-out double and Leonard drew a walk, putting two runners on base after a wild pitch advanced Matos to third. Murray, the tying run at the plate, grounded into a double play, sealing a 4-1 Memphis win. The Sounds and Redbirds continued the series today. As of the publishing of this story the Sounds were up 7-3 in the top of the 8th.

Photo / JFA Japan’s World Cup home base in Nashville couldn’t be better suited but now the team is in route to Mexico for their next match verses Tunisia. If successful in the late Saturday-night statement match, the Samurai Blue will be in position to top Group F. Japan enters the clash hoping to keep its slim-but-real chances alive after a dramatic previous outing, when it managed a late 2–2 draw against the Netherlands. Coach Hervé Renard has arrived abruptly on Tunisia’s bench following a disastrous start that left manager Sabri Lamouchi out of a job after the Sweden defeat—one that exposed defensive fragility and a lack of attacking fluency. On paper, the matchup favors Japan’s structure. The Asian side has shown it can absorb pressure, sit deep when needed, and punish opponents with quick transitions—especially when the opposition struggles to create clear chances. Tunisia, meanwhile, has struggled to generate consistent threat in the final third and has shown an alarming vulnerability when teams can run directly at them. That’s why Japan could be the safer bet to control the game flow: a compact 3-4-3 shape, disciplined defending, and the ability to press just enough to force turnovers in dangerous areas. Tunisia also faces a tactical adjustment under Renard, but don’t expect immediate perfection—especially with a team still trying to repair confidence and cohesion. The best indicators point toward a Japan win that grows more likely as the match opens up. If Tunisia push numbers forward chasing a result, their counter-attacking risk rises dramatically. Prediction: Japan 3–1. Betting angle: Japan to cover the -1.5 spread and the match to finish Over 2.5 goals. Kickoff is late Saturday night, with Japan pressing for a signature win that could swing Group F.

MEMPHIS, TN - The Nashville Sounds evened the series with a 10-8 win over the Memphis Redbirds at AutoZone Park. Memphis scored early, but Nashville answered immediately and held on after a late push. The two teams combined for 28 hits and 12 extra-base hits. From a Nashville perspective, the decisive start began in the top of the third after Akil Baddoo struck first. Baddoo opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning. Jett Williams followed with a two-run shot in the third after Ethan Murray had doubled. Back-to-back singles and a hit by pitch put runners on, and Baddoo delivered again with his second home run of the game—his fourth grand slam of the season—to make it 7-0 early. Akil Baddoo added to the ledger again in the fourth with bases loaded, drawing a walk for his sixth RBI. Ethan Murray later drove in another run with a RBI double in the fifth to push Nashville to 9-2. Memphis responded with home runs in the fifth and then continued to score in each of the next three trips to the plate. Joshua Baez drew a bases-loaded walk after a long at-bat to bring the tying run. Yohel Pozo hit home runs in back-to-back at-bats, and a leadoff double in the eighth scored on a groundout to cut the Sounds lead to 9-8. Nashville added two in the ninth. Luke Adams reached on catcher’s interference to start the inning, Jeferson Quero singled, and Greg Jones doubled in Adams. Mark Manfredi took over on the mound and stranded a runner with two straight fly outs. The series continues tonight with Game 3 at 7:05 p.m. at AutoZone Park.

Photo / JFA (Japan Football Association) NASHVILLE, TN — The Japanese Men’s National soccer team, known as Samurai Blue, has picked Nashville as its Base Camp City for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, setting up at the Nashville SC Training Center in Antioch. Japan’s arrival was today, with the team expected to remain in Music City through July 17, eating, sleeping, and training in Nashville as they prepare for football’s biggest stage. To kick off the stay, the team held a community day and open training opportunity at Geodis Park, giving fans a rare chance to see the squad up close and experience the atmosphere around a team gearing up for tournament action. A large crowd of both Japanese Nationals, expats, and general soccer enthusiasts showed up to root and cheer the Samarai Blue in their World Cup efforts. So, are they good? Soccer America’s Mikek Woitalla says the answer is an emphatic “Absolutely.” He points to Japan’s attacking style, flair, and the way the program plays to win—drawing influence from Brazil-style soccer while building its own identity over decades. Japan’s leadership includes captain Wataru Endo, a defensive midfielder with a club career in the Premier League, while star forward Takefusa Kubo has been a breakout talent since his early Real Madrid days. Still, injuries can change everything: both Endo and Kubo have recently faced health concerns, adding an element of uncertainty as the team’s run approaches. And Nashville isn’t waiting for the World Cup to start feeling real—Friday night’s USA vs. Paraguay watch party keeps the excitement going at Geodis Park, with more World Cup energy expected throughout the weekend.

JACKSONVILLE, FL - The Nashville Sounds closed out their series with the Jacksonville Shrimp on Sunday, June 7, earning a 3–1 victory in the finale at Vystar Ballpark. Nashville broke through first in the top of the fourth inning when Luke Adams homered, giving the Sounds an early 1–0 lead. Jacksonville answered in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game 1–1 when Agustín Ramírez doubled and brought in Graham Pauley. The Sounds pulled ahead again in the top of the eighth inning. After a series of baserunners and aggressive plays, Nashville scored to make it 2–1. Jacksonville threatened but Nashville preserved the lead through the late innings. In the top of the ninth, Nashville put the game away. Eddys Leonard hit a home run, extending the Sounds’ advantage to 3–1. Nashville held firm in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win and complete the series with a one-run margin. The Sounds will return to Nashville this Tuesday to begin a week-long homestand against the Durham Bulls.

Travecca Nazarene University's Assistant Athletic Director of Communications, Gregory Ruff NASHVILLE, TN - Gregory Ruff, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications and Broadcasting at Trevecca Nazarene University, has been named a finalist for the inaugural FloCollege CSC Spotlight Award. The new honor, announced by FloSports Vice President and General Manager John Turner, recognizes sports communicators across FloCollege partner conferences who have made major contributions to storytelling, student-athlete promotion, and broadcast production. “Video production is worth infinitely more,” said Mark Elliott, Director of Athletics at Trevecca, praising Ruff and the team for leading digital content, broadcasting, and storytelling efforts. Elliott added that their work helps connect Trevecca Athletics with fans while ensuring student-athletes’ stories are shared every day. Ruff, however, credits the recognition to the people behind the cameras. He pointed to years of collaboration—beginning nearly two decades ago with early experimentation in streaming and a belief that college athletics was headed toward a digital-first future. With David Klimkowski, Ruff helped launch live audio and video streaming when Trevecca explored using excess bandwidth for broadcasts, setting the stage for future growth. Over time, Trevecca expanded its coverage across multiple sports and became an early adopter of postseason championship streaming in NCAA Division II. Today, the program features advanced production capabilities, including multiple cameras, wireless equipment, graphics, and replay—supported by staff, graduate assistants, and student workers who produce hundreds of events and content pieces annually. Each finalist will receive $500, and one grand prize winner will be awarded $5,000 during the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Convention in Las Vegas.

Photo / Cumberland University's VP of Athletics and Facilities, Ron Pavan Ron Pavan used to measure time in seasons—preseason plans, game-day nerves, and the quiet work that made athletes better long after the final whistle. Now, in Lebanon, Tennessee, that measure has become something else: a legacy. This September, Pavan—Cumberland University’s Vice President of Athletics and Vice President for Facilities and Service—will be inducted into the Chartiers-Houston School District Hall of Honor. It’s not just a nod to a title, but to more than four decades of building programs, mentoring student-athletes, and shaping the places where those dreams take root. On Friday, September 11, during a ceremony before the high school football game in Houston, Pennsylvania, he’ll join nine other inductees, including the 1982 Chartiers-Houston Wrestling Team. Then, the celebration continues with a Hall of Honor dinner on Saturday, September 12, at the DoubleTree on Racetrack Road. At Cumberland, Pavan’s fingerprints are everywhere. Since arriving in 2008, he oversaw the addition of 15 sports, strengthened student-athlete support, and helped modernize facilities that now look toward the future—weight rooms, training spaces, upgraded fields and courts, and new technology for fans and athletes alike. Under his leadership, Cumberland Athletics captured conference championships, earned academic success above a 3.0 GPA, and collected national honors that sounded like impossible promises kept. Before Cumberland, he expanded Ohio Valley University and helped guide its path from the NAIA to NCAA Division II. Earlier still, he served in coaching and administrative roles at Northeastern Christian Junior College. In Las Vegas this week, NACDA will honor him as well. And this coming fall, he’ll be honored where it began—his own school’s Hall of Honor.

JACKSONVILLE, FL - Nashville flipped the script in Jacksonville on Thursday night, delivering an 8-3 win to earn their first victory of the series and snap an 11-game losing streak to the Jumbo Shrimp. The big spark came from Brett Wichrowski, who picked up the win in his Triple-A debut—buoyed by a decisive six-run top of the third that turned momentum fast. After working around two Nashville errors in the first, Wichrowski kept Jacksonville off balance early. While the Sounds were limited to singles in the first two innings, the offense broke through in a hurry in the third. Ethan Murray led the charge with the first of three straight singles, and Cooper Pratt drove in the first RBI of the inning. Jett Williams followed with a two-RBI triple to push Nashville to a 3-run lead, then Akil Baddoo added another run to make it four. From there, the Sounds kept rolling—adding five more runs in the frame on eight total third-inning hits. Murray finished 2-for-2 with a RBI, two walks, and two runs, reaching base in all four plate appearances, while Tyler Black and Pratt delivered key extra-base damage late. Brian Navarreto managed to score twice for Jacksonville, but Wichrowski still made it through five innings to set himself up for the victory. Relievers Reiss Kneher and Jacob Waguespack closed strong, with Waguespack recording two perfect innings and extending his run to nine straight games without an earned run. Next up Friday night: Nashville looks to even the series with LHP Thomas Pannone starting against RHP Bradley Blalock.

Photo / Nashville Sounds By David Oglesby A sports dream that once seemed split between two worlds—football and baseball—has taken a new turn for former Nashville Sounds player Jordyn Adams. According to a CBS Sports report, Adams has enrolled at SMU and plans to join the Mustangs’ football program, returning to the sport that first made him a national recruit. For Nashville fans who saw Adams during his time with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, the move feels like a full-circle moment: the same athlete who arrived pursuing a professional baseball path is now stepping into college football with the intent to compete on the field again. From 5-star football recruit to pro baseball veteran Adams wasn’t just a standout athlete—he was viewed as one of the sport’s future stars. In the 2018 recruiting class, 247Sports ranked him as the No. 3 wide receiver and No. 14 overall prospect nationally, with only elite prospects like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Ja’Marr Chase rated ahead of him at the position. He ultimately signed with North Carolina, intending to play both football and baseball. But that plan changed when the Los Angeles Angels selected him with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft on a signing deal worth more than $3 million. From there, the football-to-baseball pivot became real life—Adams spent the next stretch of years climbing through the Angels’ system, making his major league debut in 2023 and appearing in 17 games that season, then returning for 11 more games in 2024. In total, his MLB experience came in 38 games, with 13 hits, one home run, and five RBIs—while his longer runway of at-bats came primarily in the minors. Most recently, Adams was in the Nashville Sounds organization, with his last Triple-A appearance listed as May 20. (cbssports.com) The other recent example: Monte Harrison’s football return Adams’ decision mirrors a story that already played out in college football last year. Monte Harrison, a former MLB outfielder, made a similar jump by enrolling at Arkansas as a wide receiver after nearly a decade in professional baseball. Reports at the time described him as moving from a long baseball career into football competition—following the same idea that he could still pursue what he loved growing up. That precedent matters because it shows how the NCAA pathway for older “non-traditional” athletes can still exist—at least in some circumstances—when a player’s college timeline is unusual. How Adams is still eligible to play college football (and why it’s complicated) Adams’ case is unusual because he never enrolled at North Carolina after turning pro. The CBS Sports report notes that NCAA eligibility rules are still being discussed and debated, including proposals tied to an age-based “five-for-five” concept that could reshape eligibility for future athletes. But for Adams personally, the current reality is that he is eligible to play college football. In other words: while the rules may be shifting in the background, Adams’ football return is happening now. What it means for SMU—and for Nashville SMU is getting a rare kind of athlete: a former elite high school receiver, a proven pro-caliber competitor, and a player who has already lived through the pressures of both development leagues and the MLB spotlight. For Nashville area sports fans, Adams’ move is more than a roster update—it’s a sign that the route athletes talented enough to play on an elite level in one sport can for some translate into another. If you'd like to catch Adams live in action this upcoming season, the closest SMU will play to Music City is at Louisville's L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium on September 19.

JACKSONVILLE, FL - The Nashville Sounds’ late rally fell short Wednesday night as they dropped their second straight game to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, 3-2, at VyStar Ballpark. Tyson Hardin took his first Triple-A loss, and Nashville struggled after an early lead. Luke Adams provided the spark for the Sounds, crushing a leadoff homer to left field in the top of the third inning to give Nashville a 1-0 advantage. Adams finished 1-for-4, delivering his first homer in 59 days and the go-ahead solo shot that briefly swung momentum. Jacksonville responded in the bottom of the fourth, using patience and timely hits to score three runs and take a 3-1 lead. The Jumbo Shrimp then held firm until the seventh, when Nashville found a key opening. Akil Baddoo doubled to start the inning, and after a walk put runners in scoring position, Tyler Black lined an RBI single to score Baddoo and cut the deficit to 3-2. Craig Yoho closed the door in the eighth, striking out the side while extending his streak without an earned run to 13 consecutive games. Nashville threatened again in the ninth, but the Jumbo Shrimp ultimately shut the door in an eight-pitch frame to preserve the win. Adams’ blast highlighted a productive night at the plate, while Cooper Pratt continued an on-base streak that now sits at 23 straight games. The Sounds will look to reverse their fortune Thursday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT.

Photo / Professional Referee Organization (PRO) Tennessee Tech alumna Brooke Mayo has been selected to serve as an assistant referee at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and that news feels like something straight out of Middle Tennessee—earned, steady, and hard-won. A former Golden Eagles soccer standout who played at Tech from 2007 to 2010, Mayo later earned Tennessee Tech Athletics’ Woman of the Year recognition in 2011, a reflection of the discipline and leadership she showed long before her name appeared alongside the sport’s biggest headlines. For Nashville-area fans, the story carries extra weight: it’s not just “someone from Tennessee”—it’s someone from our regional rhythm, built in classrooms and practices and long days that don’t always make the national spotlight. Mayo’s appointment represents her first men’s World Cup, but it is far from her first international assignment. She has previously served as an assistant referee at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, worked officiating duties at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and took part in matches tied to the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. She was also recognized as U.S. Soccer’s 2025 Female Referee of the Year—a major honor that speaks to how highly her officiating is valued. And while the world stage may be new, Mayo’s perspective is familiar: at elite levels, you have to keep improving, stay ready, and represent yourself, your federation, and your roots with professionalism. Look for Brooke on the pitch as you enjoy the World Cup this Summer.