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LOOK: Tennessee starting lineup vs. Alabama without Gavin Kilen  

On3 imageby: Eric Cain03/20/25_Cainer
Tennessee freshman shortstop Dean Curley fires an out to first base during a 7-6 loss at Alabama on March 17. Credit: Alabama Athletics
Tennessee freshman shortstop Dean Curley fires an out to first base during a 7-6 loss at Alabama on March 17. Credit: Alabama Athletics

Top-ranked Tennessee baseball is without starting second baseman Gavin Kilen for the series-opener Thursday night in Tuscaloosa against no. 12 Alabama as the junior was ruled OUT on the game day availability report.   

The team-leader in average (.431), hits (31), home runs (10, RBI (25), runs (32) and slugging percentage (.986) was initially ruled ‘questionable’ on Wednesday’s initial availability report. Kilen suffered a lower-body injury late in Tuesday’s loss to East Tennessee State and was seen limping after the game. He did finish the game for Tennessee in the 10-inning affair, homering earlier in the contest.  

Without Kilen, Tony Vitello was forced to shuffle both his defensive and offensive lineup for game one of the series on Thursday.

Dean Curley leads off and plays his normal shortstop. Freshman Jay Abernathy moves up to second in the order (where Gavin Kilen usually hits) and plays left field. Hunter Ensley (CF), Andrew Fischer (1B), Levi Clark (DH) and Reese Chapman (RF) are in thier normal spots of No. 3-6 in the order.

Freshman Manny Marin will slide over to second base (for Kilen) from third and bat seventh. Utility man Dalton Bargo gets the nod at third base and will hit eighth while catcher Cannon Peebles will bat ninth.

Tennessee dropped its first contest of the season on Tuesday night when it fell 7-6 to East Tennessee State. Prior to the loss, the Vols had won 22-straight games dating back to the end of the 2024 season. The 20-0 start to the year was the best start in program history.  

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