Vanderbilt Commodores

Game Preview: No. 11 Vanderbilt at No. 15 Tennessee, Game 3

The Commodores and Volunteers will decide the series winner in Sunday's rubber match in Knoxville. Here's everything to know ahead of the pivotal game.
Taylor Hodges|
Vanderbilt's Rustan Rigdon (19) and Tennessee's Hunter Ensley (9) react to the call at second base during a college baseball game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 9, 2025.
Vanderbilt's Rustan Rigdon (19) and Tennessee's Hunter Ensley (9) react to the call at second base during a college baseball game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 9, 2025. | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Can Vanderbilt do it again?

In Saturday’s second game against No. 15 Tennessee, the Commodores (almost literally) ran circles around the Volunteers. The Commodores (35-16, 15-11 SEC) stole eight bases and Tennessee (39-12, 15-11 SEC) didn’t catch any runners stealing until the eighth inning.

No. 11 Vanderbilt loves to steal bases. The Commodores have 94 stolen bases this season, which is third-most in the SEC. Only Oklahoma (103) and Kentucky (112) have more. Tennessee, meanwhile, has caught the most runners stealing base in the SEC (26), but the Volunteers have the most stolen base attempts (125) and most stolen bases allowed (99) in the SEC.

The Commodores weren’t able to steal many bases in the first game, but Tennessee’s Liam Doyle allowed just four base runners in seven inning. But the Commodores won’t be facing Doyle again Sunday. They’ll face freshman Tegan Kuhns, who is making his eighth start of the season and has allowed 12 stolen bases while on the mound (fourth-most amongst Tennessee’s pitchers).

If Vanderbilt gets runners on base, expect to see them try and steal more bases.

Here’s everything to know about Sunday’s series finale between Vanderbilt and Tennessee:

(Note: This story will be updated once starting lineups are announced.)

Vanderbilt Commodores Starting Lineup

  1. Rustan Rigdon, 2B
  2. RJ Austin, CF
  3. Riley Nelson, 1B
  4. Brodie Johnston, 3B
  5. Braden Holcomb, LF
  6. Colin Barczi, C
  7. Jonathan Vastine, SS
  8. Jacob Humphrey, RF
  9. Mike Mancini, DH

Tennessee Volunteers Starting Lineup

  1. Gavin Kilen, SS
  2. Andrew Fischer, 1B
  3. Hunter Ensley, CF
  4. Dalton Bargo, 3B
  5. Dean Curley, SS
  6. Blake Grimmer, DH
  7. Levi Clark, LF
  8. Cannon Peebles, C
  9. Chris Newstrom, RF

Pitching Matchup

RHP Connor Fennell (5-0, 3.20 ERA, 39.1 IP, 72 SO, 9 BB, 14 ER, .176 b/avg.) vs. RHP Tegan Kuhns (2-2, 3.94 ERA, 29.2 IP, 31 SO, 12 BB, 13 ER, .267 b/avg.)

Injury Report

Vanderbilt

Out

RHP Hudson Barton

Tennessee

Out

INF Alberto Osuna

Weather Forecast

Partly sunny skies are in the AccuWeather forecast for Sunday’s series finale in Knoxville, Tenn. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 70s at gametime and winds will be minimal. There is a small chance of rain (32 percent) in the afternoon, but jumps up closer to 50 percent in the evening.

How to Watch: No. 11 Vanderbilt at No. 15 Tennessee

When: 2 p.m., Sunday

Where: Lindsey Nelson Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn.

TV: ESPN2

Radio: Live Radio

Stats: Live Stats

Vanderbilt Commodores On SI:

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Taylor Hodges
TAYLOR HODGES

Award-winning sports editor, writer, columnist, and photographer with 15 years’ experience offering his opinion and insight about the sports world in Mississippi and Texas, but he was taken to Razorback pep rallies at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth before he could walk. Taylor has covered all levels of sports, from small high schools in the Mississippi Delta to NFL games. Follow Taylor on Twitter and Facebook.

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