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Tennessee baseball rolls past Indiana State in midweek bout

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Tennessee baseball rolls past Indiana State in midweek bout


Gavin Kilen homered twice, including a three-run shot in the fourth inning and No. 15 Tennessee run-ruled Indiana State, 12-1 in seven innings at Lindsey Nelson Stadium Tuesday.

The Vols (38-11), who were coming off of their third-straight series loss to Auburn last weekend, were productive and aggressive at the plate, taking early swings and totaling 11 hits.

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The lineup accounted for five home runs, two from Kilen and one each from right fielder Reese Chapman, first baseman Andrew Fischer and center fielder Colby Backus in the sixth inning.

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Kilen was 3-of-4 at the plate with four RBIs, while Fischer finished 2-of-4.

Tennessee got the most out of its arms, too. Michael Sharman set the tone with strong start, allowing five hits, one run and striking out three in 3.2 innings of work.

Relievers Austin Breedlove, Brandon Arvidson, Brayden Krenzel and Thomas Crabtree combined to give up just one hit and five strikeouts.

Sycamores (22-26) left fielder Jorge Cartagena had Indiana State’s lone RBI in the second.

Backed by a strong start from Michael Sharman, who tossed a couple of strikeouts in the top half of the first inning, the top of Tennessee’s order made quick work of Indiana State starter Jacob Spencer.

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Gavin Kilen, Andrew Fischer and Hunter Ensley all singled, with Ensley’s knock going up the middle to score Kilen and give the Vols an early 1-0 lead.

Dean Curley, batting fifth in the order, was recorded the fourth hit with a single to short that allowed Fischer to score and extend the Tennessee lead to 2-0.

The Sycamores got out of the inning with the damage limited there, but Kilen came through again in the second with a two-run shot to right field to open up a 4-0 lead through two innings.

Sharman, who stranded base-runners in the first and second, ran into trouble again in the third with two on and two outs after Indiana State had gotten on the board on Carter Beck‘s RBI ground out. But Jeremy Martinez harmlessly flew out to left to prevent the Sycamores from adding more.

After the Vols went down in order in the bottom third, Sharman gave up a walk and back-to-back bunts moved Jorge Cartagena over to third with two outs. That ended Sharman’s night and Austin Breedlove took over out of the bullpen to try and leave the Sycamores empty-handed in the inning.

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Breedlove delivered, striking out Mason Roell looking to end the frame.

Reese Chapman led off the bottom fourth with a solo no-doubter to right-center to swell the Tennessee lead to 5-1. Stone Lawless and Jay Abernathy each wore a pitches in consecutive at-bats to give the Vols a couple of one-out base-runners.

Kilen paid them both off, mashing a three-run home run over the wall in right to stretch the lead to 8-1.

Breelove issued a walk to lead off the fifth before Brandon Arvidson entered with two outs, but he gave up a walk against the first batter he faced and stolen base put two in scoring position for Indiana State.

Arvidson escaped the jam with a strikeout.

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Back at the plate, Tennessee was quickly back in position to add to its lead after Curley advanced to second on a fielding error at third, and Ariel Antigua moved into third with no outs in the bottom fifth.

Chapman scored Antigua on a fly-out to left and the Vols were up 9-1, two runs away from the run-rule with at least two more frames left to play.

With two outs, Abernathy extended the inning with a chopper to second that Jackson Taylor was unable to field in time and the Vols had the bases loaded, but Kilen grounded out at first to end the frame.

Fischer got off to an emphatic start in the bottom sixth, though. He mashed a home run to right–Tennessee’s third of the night–to up the lead to 10-1, and Colby Backus followed it up with a single to left.

Curley brought the Vols into run-rule territory with a ground out to first that scored Backus, but just for good measure, Chris Newstrom made the most of insertion into the lineup in the inning with a solo shot that stayed fair down the third base line and exited the stadium left.

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Tennessee continues its final stretch with another top 15 series against No. 11 Vanderbilt this weekend.

The Vols, who have won four-straight series against the Commodores, are looking to end a skid after losing three-straight series for the first time under Tony Vitello.

Vanderbilt (34-14, 14-10) is coming off of series win over Alabama.

First pitch between Tennessee and the Commodores is slated for Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network) at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Left-handed pitcher Liam Doyle (8-2, 2.39 ERA) will start for the Vols.

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Why first quarter was ‘crucial’ in Mississippi State’s loss to Tennessee

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Why first quarter was ‘crucial’ in Mississippi State’s loss to Tennessee


Sam Purcell felt good about the game plan for Mississippi State women’s basketball’s matchup with Tennessee.

But the Bulldogs gave up 26 points in the first quarter and trailed by seven points. It was a deficit they never recovered from in a 90-80 loss to the Lady Vols at Humphrey Coliseum on Jan. 8.

“You look at that that first quarter, I thought it was crucial. We had a great scout, a great game plan, but we didn’t talk on ball screens,” Purcell said. “Their largest quarter was that first quarter, and we’re going to watch back and go, dang it, we need to be more vocal. And you got to give them credit – top to bottom, they’re probably as good as anybody in the country with athleticism. So you can’t let those athletic kids turn the corner for wide open layups, and we did.”

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Kharyssa Richardson and Madison Francis led the Bulldogs with 22 points each, but MSU didn’t have enough defense to pull off the upset.

Had Mississippi State been able to slow down Tennessee’s drivers in the first quarter, it may have been a different result. But once the Bulldogs started slowing that down, the Lady Vols were “phenomenal hitting some big-time shots,” Purcell said.

Tennessee only had the edge in points in the paint, 42-40, but it also went 10-for-27 on 3-pointers, which was an area Mississippi State couldn’t match. The Bulldogs shot 2-for-13 from deep.

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MSU also couldn’t stop Tennessee freshman point guard Mia Pauldo, who scored a game-high 26 points on 8-for-12 shooting. The Bulldogs sent her to the foul line time and time again, and she went 8-for-9 on free throws.

“I thought (Pauldo) was poised, she was clutch,” Purcell said. “Obviously, that’s what you need in games like this that are gonna come down the to the wire. You need players to step up, and I thought she was the X factor for them.”



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Former Tennessee Football Legend Accepts SEC Coaching Gig

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Former Tennessee Football Legend Accepts SEC Coaching Gig


The Tennessee Volunteers have been one of the main teams when it comes to producing talent and sending talent to the NFL, which is something that has often been discovered as a standard for the football program. This is something that has been going on for quite some time and isn’t anything new to the news cycle, as the Vols have been able to produce plenty of talented prospects.

Tennessee is the home of many stars, including some of the best defensive players in SEC history. Guys like Eric Berry have found their way through the Tennessee program and onto the NFL, where they would have legendary careers. However, the defensive side of the football is the only side that has produced plenty of talent, as Tennessee has produced a lot of offensive talent as well. With the likes of Peyton Manning and company, the Vols have shown a great track record in getting talent drafted.

The Vols have produced someone who could be considered as one of the best players to play the Tide end position, as the Knoxville, Tennessee program is the home to Dallas Cowboys legend, Jason Witten. Witten is someone who made the most of his career and has been viewed as a top player at the Tide in position, and someone who is often referred to as a legend for the Cowboys, along with being a legend in the game of football as a whole.

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Jason Witten Accepts TE Coach Position For Oklahoma

Oct 10, 2010; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) on the phone in the bench area in the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Cowboys Stadium. The Titans beat the Cowboys 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images | Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images
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Witten is now taking a new gig, which has him in a huge role inside the Southeastern Conference. The Vols legend is now the tight end coach for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners have had some success out of their tight ends in the past, but the sky is the limit with a guy like Witten coaching up the players. Witten has the opportunity to do really well, as coaching tight ends won’t be an issue, and you have to imagine that he will be able to recruit very well, considering he has a huge name around him, as this is something that we have seen from positional coaches as well as head coaches who have done great work in the league. You have to imagine that the Vols will now have stiff competition for his son, Cooper, who is a five-star recruit for the upcoming 2027 class at the linebacker position.


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Tennessee Football DB Transfer Boo Carter Visits the Vols Rival

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Tennessee Football DB Transfer Boo Carter Visits the Vols Rival


The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to land many of the nation’s best players in the transfer portal to replace the players who have already announced they are transferring away from Tennessee. One of the players they lost very early on to the portal, and his plans of entering the portal is Boo Carter.

Carter is someone who has quickly made a name for himself, as he played for the Vols as a freshman. He also played for the Tennessee Vols this past season before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Carter entered the portal and left an announcement on his X page for those interested. Here is what was said.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank The University of Tennessee Coaches, administrators and fans for a wonderful 2 years. Unfortunately my season has been cut short due to injury. I have decided to enter the transfer portal and I am excited about the opportunities going forward!-Boo Carter”

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Boo Carter Visits Vanderbilt

Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter (23) pulls on his jersey during Tennessee football preseason practice, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Aug. 6, 2025. | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Now that the portal is here, he has started to hear from many teams, including a team many anticipated to be in the picture. The Vols DB heard from the Vanderbilt staff and is now reportedly visiting them. This is a school where many of his friends go currently, and a school that has been doing well, but it is no secret that this is one of the Vols’ biggest rivalries.

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He is undecided on a possible commitment somewhere, but the reports have started to indicate that the Commodores are a team to watch moving forward. This will be one to watch for the Vols, as there is a good chance they may see Carter next season.

“Dynamic athlete who quickly made an impact on defense and special teams as a true freshman … Earned the starting STAR position and shined while becoming a dangerous weapon as a punt returner as a true freshman in 2024 … Saw action as a slot receiver as well during 2025 spring practices … Early enrollee in January 2024 who participated in Citrus Bowl practices and spring practice before his true freshman season … Has compiled 63 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, three pass breakups and one interception on defense in his career … Dynamic punt returner who averages 16.0 yards per return in his career … Played in 21 career games and made five starts,” the Tennessee Vols athletics website stated.

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