Live Updates - Tennessee vs Kent State Game 2

The Tennessee Volunteers needed all nine innings to deliver the walk off punch from the bat of Tyler Myatt in Friday night’s win over Kent State. We have the live updates for Game 2.

The Tennessee Volunteers are currently (5-0) on the 2026 season, the first under head coach Josh Elander. They’ve cruised for the most part this season through the early non-conference slate, though Friday night was a bit of a different story.

The Vols bats were held scoreless until a 3-run sixth that was highlighted by the 2-run home run from Jay Abernathy. A run in the top of the eighth and ninth innings from Kent State tied up the contest in the ninth.

The bottom of the ninth began and ended with a Tyler Matt solo shot to walk the game off and seal the fifth win of the season for the Vols. Now, they look to move to 6-0 on Saturday in Game 2 vs Kent State.

Tennessee coach Josh Elander greets Kent State coach Jeff Duncan during a baseball game between Tennessee and Kent State in Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, Feb. 20, 2026. | Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Live Updates - Tennessee vs Kent State, Game 2

First Inning: Ford Homers to Give Vols the Lead, (1-0)
Top: Grady Mee steps to the plate to lead things off for Kent State against Vols starting pitcher, Landon Mack. A strikeout looking begins the contest. A groundout to the shortstop, Marin records the second out. Brody Williams then strikes out to end the top of the first.

Bottom: Ford, Brown, and Clark will lead things off for the Vols. Easton Tumis is the starting pitcher for the Golden Flashes in Game 2. After fighting off several tough two-strike pitches, Henry Ford homers down the right field line to put the Vols up 1-0 in the bottom of the first. (1-0). Blaine Brown now to the plate for the Vols, and he grounds out to the first baseman for the first out of the inning. Levi Slark hits the first pitch sharp into left field for a one-out single. Myatt is then hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second for Stone Lawless. A wild pitch advances both runners to second and third before Lawless strikes out swinging for the second out. Marin then flies out to center to end the inning.

Second Inning: Golden Flash Thrown Out at Home (1-0)
Top: Ripken Reese draws a walk to start the second inning. Micah Rienst then strikes out swinging for the first out of the inning. Hunter Klotz draws a walk to put runners at first and second base with one out and Luke Matthew at the plate. Luke Matthew singles to left field, Abernathy throws the runner out at home plate. Kolton Schal flies out to center to end the inning.

Bottom: Abernathy, Newstrom, Antigua. Abernathy doubled to right-center to start the inning. Newstrom grounded out to shortstop. Newstrom grounds out. A fielder's choice and a fly out end the inning.

Third Inning: Scoreless. (1-0)
Top: Max Humphrey strikes out swinging for the first out of the inning. Grady Mee strikes out looking for the second out. Solit singles up the middle for the first single of the day. Brody Willia reached on a throwing error. Ripken flies out to centerfield.

Bottom: Brown, Clark, and Myatt are due up for the Vols. Brown flies out to center for the first out of the inning. Levi Clark grounds out to second for the 2nd out of the inning. Tyler Myatt then flies out to right field for the final out of the inning.

Jay's there!

📺 https://t.co/oo8wnG6Foz #GBO // #OTH pic.twitter.com/bTQWE9LqOE
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) February 21, 2026

Fourth Inning:
Top: RHP, Landon Mack, continues work for the Vols with a strikeout to start the top of the fourth inning. Hunter Klotz steps to the plate for the Golden Flashes, and he draws a walk. A fielder's choice records the second out and moves the runner to second base for Kolton Schal for Kent State.

Bottom: Lawless, Marin, and Abernathy will be due up for the Vols. Lawless begins the bottom half with a single into left field. Marin strikes out for the first out of the inning, bringing up Jay Abernathy. Abernathy strikes out for out No. 2. Newstrom steps to the plate with one on and two out, and flies out to center for the final out of the inning.

Fifth Inning: Golden Flashes Strike in the Top of the Fifth (1-2)
Top: Landon Mack continues pitching for the Vols in the top of the fifth. Max Humphrey leads off with an infield single. Max Humphrey steals second base to put a Golden Flash runner in scoring position. Grady Mee strikes out swinging after several failed bunt attempts for the first out of the inning. Sawyer Solitaria then reached on an infield single, putting runners at first and third with just one out. Brody Willia now steps in for the Golden Flashes. A two-hopper goes through third base into left field, scoring the first Golden Flashes' run of the contest. (1-1). A fielder's choice records the second out at second base, but a throwing error brings home another run (1-2). Micah Rienst lines out to left field to finally end the top of the fifth.

Bottom: Antigua, Ford, and Brown are due up for the Vols in the bottom half of the fifth. Antigua is hit by a pitch to put the lead-off runner on first base for the Vols. Antigua advances to second base on a ball in the dirt. Ford flies out to center field, but Antigua tags up and advances to third as Brown steps to the plate with one out. Nick Guidas is now in to pitch for the Golden Flashes, ending Easton Tumis's day on the mound. Brown grounds out to second base with the infield in for the second out of the inning. Levi Clark then steps in fouled out down the first base line to end the inning.

Sixth Inning: Scoreless (1-2)
Top: Landon Mack continues pitching for the Vols. Klotz strikes out to begin the inning. Luke Matthew grounds out to shortstop on the first pitch of his at-bat. Kolton Schaller then strikes out swinging to retire the side.

Bottom: Myatt, Lawless, and Marin due up for the Vols. Myatt strikes out swinging for the first out of the inning. Lawless singles to center on the first pitch of the at-bat. Marin strikes out swinging for the second out of the inning. Jay Abernathy is now at the plate, and he draws a walk. Runners at first and second now for Newstrom. Newstrom flies out for the third and final out of the inning.

Seventh Inning: Scoreless (1-2)
Top: Landon Mack continues on the mound for the Vols and strikes out Max Humphrey to start the inning. Grady Mee strikes out looking for the second out of the inning. LHP Brandon Arvidson is now in to pitch for the Vols, bringing Landon Mack's day to an end after 6.2 innings of work. Solitiria then doubles to left center to put a runner in scoring position with two outs. Solitiria steals third base before Wilia strikes out looking to end the top of the seventh.

Bottom: Antigua, Ford, and Brown are due up for the Vols. Antigua flies out to left field for the first out of the inning. Henry Ford grounds out to third for the second out of the inning. Brown grounds out to end the inning.

Eighth Inning:
Top: Reese grounds out, Rienst strikes out looking, and Klotz strikes out looking as the Golden Flashes are retired in order.

Bottom: Clark, Myatt, and Lawless due up for the Vols in the bottom half. Levi Clark strikes out swinging. Myatt is then hit by a pitch to put the tying runner on first base for Lawless. Lawless is hit by a pitch as well to put the go-ahead runner on base for Marin. Bates is now pinch running for Myatt. The Golden Flashes bring on Peyton Williams to replace Nick Guidas on the mound. Marin flies out to center. Abernathy grounds out to end the inning.

Ninth Inning:
Top: Luke Matthew singles off of Arvidson to begin the inning. Luke Matthew steals second base before pinch-hitter Nolan Belche strikes out swinging for the first out of the inning. Luke Matthews is picked off for the second out of the inning. Max Humphrey strikes out to end the top of the ninth.

Bottom: Newstrom, Antigua, and Ford are due up for the Vols in the ninth. Newstrom flies out for the first out of the inning. Grindlinger enters the game to pinch-hit for Antigua. Grindlinger grounds out to the shortstop for the second out of the inning. Ford flies out to end the contest.

Starting Lineup:
- SP, Landon Mack
1. Henry Ford, 3B
2. Blaine Brown, LF
3. Levi Clark, 1B
4. Tyler Myatt, DH
5. Stone Lawless, C
6. Manny Marin, SS
7. Jay Abernathy, CF
8. Chris Newstrom, RF
9. Arian Antigua, 2b

How to Watch

Game day: Saturday, Feb. 21st, 2026
Game time: 4:00 pm ET
TV: SECN+
Location: Lindsey Nelson Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee

Pregame Storylines

Round 2#GBO🍊// #OTH pic.twitter.com/Di3gbetMnj
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) February 21, 2026

Head coach Josh Elander felt they "stole one" on Friday night, saying after the game, "I think honestly we kind of stole one tonight. That's a really good team. They're coached very, very well with some older players that are very talented and not scared and have been tested over the years. And, again, I think we had nine free 90 feets we gave up tonight, so that's the opposite of the MO we've been preaching, so I think we really got away with one. I thought we played some great defense that bailed us out, and Tyler Myatt bailed us out. What a swing there, just a low heart rate there at the end."

Tennessee pitchers hit (6) Kent State hitters on Friday night, something that has to get cleaned up moving forward. Elander spoke about that as well Friday night, saying, "I think it's just a veteran group over there that's not afraid to put their toes on the line and go to work, right?" He would go on to say that you have to credit them, and the Vols will need to adjust.