How it Happened: Five-run first carries Tennessee in 7-5 midweek win

Tennessee baseball remains perfect on the season as the Vols took care of business against North Alabama on Tuesday night from Lindsey Nelson Stadium, 7-5 the final score.  

The Vols (8-0) plated five runs in the first inning – highlighted by a 2-run single from Jay Abernathy – and one more in the second and third frames. Gavin Kilen also homered in the contest while Reese Chapman drove in two.

The Lions (3-4) picked up two runs in the third and another in the seventh – both courtesy of Alex Wilson’s abt.

Tegan Kuhns (1-0), who made his collegiate debut on Tuesday, earned the win for the Vols after tossing a clean 1.1 innings over five batters faced. Lions’ starter Reese Young (0-1) is charged with the loss after allowing five runs off four hits in just 1.0 inning of work.

AJ Russell, who made his return to the mound for Tennessee on Tuesday for the first time since Tommy John surgery in June, pitched a clean first inning with three strikeouts in his start.

Tennessee returns to action this weekend in Houston for the Astros Foundation College Classic at Daikin Park. The Vols will take on Oklahoma State on Friday (4:05 pm ET), Rice on Saturday (12:05 pm ET) and Arizona on Sunday (11:05 pm ET). All games will be streamed at Astros.com and on the Astros social media accounts.  

Postgame Video

Scoring Summary

Bot 1^st: Cannon Peebles RBI single to left. Vols 1-0
Bot 1^st: Reese Chapman RBI single to left. Vols 2-0
Bot 1^st: Stone lawless walked with the bases loaded. Vols 3-0
Bot 1^st: Jay Abernathy singled in a pair on a drive to left field. Vols 5-0
Bot 2^nd: Reese Chapman RBI single to left. Vols 6-0
Top 3^rd: Alex Wilson singled in a pair of runs. Vols 6-2
Bot 3^rd: Gavin Kilen sent a line drive over the left field wall. Vols 7-2

Oppo 🌮

📺 https://t.co/4p4LDfKbpf

#GBO // #BeatUNA pic.twitter.com/lbBTcdL57C

— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) February 25, 2025

Top 7^th: Alex Wilson RBI single to centerfield. Vols 7-3
Top 8^th: Leighton Jenkins RBI groundout. Vols 7-4

The Final Stats

Tennessee’s Weekly Schedule

Tuesday: No. 3 Tennessee 7, North Alabama 5 | Box Score
Friday: No. 3 Tennessee vs. Oklahoma State | 4:05 PM ET | Houston
Saturday: No. 3 Tennessee vs. Rice | 12:05 PM ET | Houston
Sunday: No. 3 Tennessee vs. Arizona | 11:05 ET | Houston

Vols in the Weekly Polls

USA Today – No. 1
NCBWA – No. 2
Baseball America – No. 2
D1 Baseball – No. 3
Perfect Game – No. 4