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0 Emmett Siegel
Knoxville News Sentinel
USA Today
HOOVER, Ala. – Tennessee baseball defeated South Carolina in its the first round of the SEC Tournament, 11-6, at the Hoover Met on May 19.
Shut the door.#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/fQKXIPRu3r
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 20, 2026
In his first career SEC start, freshman lefty Cam Appenzeller earned the win for the No. 10 seed Vols (38-19) after giving up three runs and six hits in five innings with five strikeouts.
Game won in the Met#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/jn4c2hmurN
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 20, 2026
Tennessee scored twice in the first inning but trailed briefly midway through the third inning, 3-2. It then plated six runs in the bottom half.
See everyone tomorrow, because the VOLS WIN!#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/5EascMrcCl
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 20, 2026
South Carolina (22-35), the No. 15 seed, committed three errors that led to four unearned runs. The Gamecocks brought themselves within three in the seventh, but Garrett Wright and Henry Ford hit solo home runs for Tennessee in the eighth.
T9 | Haas back out to try and close this one out!
11-6 Vols
📺 https://t.co/Cfi2b9MPJ9#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/0SylYVogsi
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 20, 2026
Wright and Ford led the way for Tennessee’s offense. Wright totaled four hits and three RBIs while Ford went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Hammerin' Henry Ford!
📺 https://t.co/Cfi2b9MPJ9 #GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/WgH7prapi5
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 20, 2026
Tennessee will face No. 7 seed Arkansas in the second round on May 20 (5:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network), and the Vols will start Evan Blanco (7-3, 4.56 ERA) on the mound. Arkansas hasn’t announced its starter, but coach Dave Van Horn said the Razorbacks will not pitch All-SEC first-team selection Hunter Dietz (7-3, 3.32 ERA).
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 20, 2026
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