It’s been all about the little things for Tegan Kuhns.
Following what pitching coach Josh Reynolds has outlined for him, eating healthier, drinking water — and bumping the tunes of NBA Youngboy while arriving at Lindsey Nelson Stadium for a pivotal doubleheader tilt.
Josh Elander needed someone to set the tone, and he delivered one message after Thursday’s loss.
“We just need this one,” Kuhns recalled. “It’s big.”
Elander reaped the rewards of his trust in the draft-eligible sophomore. Kuhns went a career-best 8.0 innings, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out nine batters in. He did not need a relief arm to finish up the task, going the distance in the Vols’ 10-0 run-rule win over Alabama in eight innings.
“I think somewhere in there, when things are going tough, there’s a decision, and how are we going to go this way or that way?” Elander said. “And I thought he just took the steering wheel and we went the right direction because of Tegan.”
Kuhns set the tone off the rip to kick off a doubleheader against Alabama on Friday. He retired the side in order in the first inning — the first of five innings he did so.
Alabama’s order, which posted 12 runs and 11 hits the night prior, struggled with Kuhns’ repertoire. He effectively utilized his curveball, alongside the rest of his four-pitch mix, to allow only two runners in scoring position. Kuhns kept Alabama hitless with runners on (0-for-5) and did not allow a single leadoff hitter to reach base.
In the fourth inning, Kuhns got himself in trouble with two outs on the board. He got behind 3-1 in the count to John Lemm at the plate, then fired a pickoff attempt over to first base. The throw missed Levi Clark and trickled to foul territory — allowing the runner to advance into scoring position.
Manny Marin took a second to come from his post at shortstop.
“He goes, ‘Dude, I think a fast ball up works here better,’” Kuhns heard Marin say.
“I was like, ‘What?’” Kuhns said.
What did he do? Curveball on the next pitch for strike three, looking.
In the eighth inning, Kuhns’ velocity was still manageable at 95 mph, suggesting a ninth inning was still in the tank if it was needed. The Vols’ offense didn’t let that happen, though, scoring two runs in the bottom half to run-rule the Crimson Tide.
Of the 24 outs recorded, Kuhns recorded 10 groundouts, nine strikeouts and five flyouts.
Kuhns continues to raise the amount of money he will make in July. Tennessee baseball’s once-ace and draft-eligible sophomore has responded to adversity that pushed him into a bullpen role with back-to-back shutout starts.
Ever since returning to the starting rotation, Kuhns has lowered his season ERA from 4.08 to 2.55. He’s gone 23.2 innings, allowing 12 hits and two earned runs in four starts since coming out of the bullpen against Vanderbilt on March 27.
It started with a challenge.
“You got to be quicker to the plate,” Elander said. “You got to cover up your glove. You can’t give teams ways to beat you.”
Kuhns’ recent outing marked a challenge completed.
“We won two games today because of Tegan Kuhns,” Elander said. “… It’s those little habits he’s continuing to get better and better at. But all the credit goes to him — he was phenomenal for us today, what he gave us.”
Kuhns handed Alabama its first shutout loss since April 4, 2025, against Auburn — and he became the first pitcher to go the distance in a shutout against the Tide since Dominic Niman did it for Kentucky on April 6, 2024.
He’s the first Tennessee pitcher to record a complete-game shutout this season, and the first since Marcus Phillips against Florida last season in a seven-inning condensed game. Kuhns’ complete game of eight innings is the most since Drew Beam did so against Alabama in 2024, a game the Vols lost.
Kuhns has earned the opportunity to reclaim the Friday night spot. His game two performance on a Friday echoed that.
