NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee baseball hits the field for the its first fall exhibition, facing off with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in First Horizon Park. 

The 2024 College World Series champions are looking to reload ahead of the 2025 campaign with several highly-touted newcomers. The weekend of exhibitions — which will end in Jackson against Troy on Sunday — gives the first true look at what the roster will hold. 

Tennessee is wearing orange tops with an orange hat and gray pants. Western Kentucky is rolling with red tops with a gray hat and gray pants.

PREVIEW: Tony Vitello previews Tennessee baseball’s fall exhibitions

Follow along for live updates, box score, play-by-play and takeaways from Nashville in what will be a 14-inning long exhibition. 

Lineups 

Tennessee through first nine innings 

1. Jay Abernathy (DH): 2-for-4, F9, 2B, FC, 1B, SAC, 2 R, 2 RBI

-Robinson Martin: 0-1, F7 

2. Hunter Ensley (CF): 3-for-5, 4-3, 2B, 2 1B, K, RBI 

-Holden Brauner: 1-for-1, 1B

3. Andrew Fischer (3B): 2-for-4, HR, K, F9, 1B, RBI, R

-Dane Morrow: 0-for-1, K

4. Dean Curley (MIF): 1-for-2, HR, K, 2BB, RBI, R

5. Cannon Peebles (C): 2-for-4, 1B, F3, BB, 4-3, 2B, 2 RBI

6. Gavin Kilen (MIF): 1-for-2, 2 HBP, 1B, 1U

-Manny Marin: 1-for-1, 1B

7. Alex Perry (1B): 0-for-2, F8, 6-4-3, 2 BB, SAC, RBI

8. Reese Chapman (RF): 0-for-3, K, F7, 4-3, E8

-Levi Clark: 0-for-1, K

9. Colby Backus (LF): 1-for-4, 2 K, 1B, F7

-Blake Grimmer: 0-for-1, K

SP: Liam Doyle (LHP): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR, 27 Pitches (22 strikes)

-RHP Marcus Phillips: 2/3 IP, 1 H, 2R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 0 HR, 38 Pitches (20 strikes)

-RHP Andrew Behnke: 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0K, 0HR, 14 pitches (10 strikes)

-LHP Michael Sharman: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 24 pitches (16 strikes)

-RHP Thomas Crabtree: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR, 24 pitches (16 strikes)

-RHP Austin Hunley: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB, 27 pitches (18 strikes)

End of nine innings 

Western Kentucky through first nine innings 

1. Dylan O’Connell (DH): 3-for-5, K, 3 1B, L4

2. Carlos Vasquez (LF): 0-for-3, K, 5-3, 2 BB, F7

3. Anthony Westbrook (C): 1-for-4, F7, BB, K, 4-3, 1B

4. Ryan Wideman (CF): 2-for-4, 1B, SF, FC, HR, 5-4, 3 RBI, R

5. Ethan Lizama (RF): 0-for-3, F4, BB, 2 K

6. Henry Brown (1B): 0-for-3, 2 K, 6-3

-Kyle Hayes: 0-for-1, K

7. Drew Barragan (SS): 1-for-4, 2 K, 1B, L7

8. Caleb Niehaus (3B): 1-for-2, K, HBP, 1B

9. Austin Haller (2B): 1-for-3, 2B, Sac bunt, 6-3, 2 K

SP: RHP Treyson Peters

-LHP Lucas Litteral

-RHP Drew Whalen

End of nine innings 

Tennessee lineup and stats for innings 10-14

1. Brayden Sharp (8): 0-3, L7, 2 K

-Holden Brauner: 0-1, K

2. Jay Abernathy (4): 0-0, BB, SB

-Jaxon Walker: 0-2, 3U, E4

3. Levi Clark (7): 1-2, 1B, K

4. Stone Lawless (2): 1-2, 2B, BB, 3U, 2 RBI

5. Hunter High (9): 0-1, HBP, BB, 3-1, RBI

6. Chris Newstrom (3): 1-2, 1B, BB, F7, RBI

7. Manny Marin (6): 1-1, 1B, RBI, BB

-Danny Morrow: 1-1, 1B

8. Blake Grimmer (5): 0-1, 2 BB, 4-6-3, RBI

9. Brooks Wright (DH): 0-1, BB, 6-3, RBI

-Robinson Martin: 0-1, K

–RHP Nic Abraham: 2 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 H, 2 K, 0 BB, 23 pitches (15 strikes) 

-RHP Tanner Franklin: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 K, 1 BB, 26 pitches (17 strikes)

-LHP Luke Payne: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 K, 0 BB, 16 pitches (12 strikes)

-LHP Brayden May: 1 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 H, 2 K, 0 BB, 1 HR, 15 pitches (10 strikes) 

Scoring plays and box

Western Kentucky 6 12 4 

Tennessee 16 18 1

FINAL

Tennessee wins 8-4 after nine innings. Final box from the first nine is below. 

Western Kentucky 4 9 3 

Tennessee 8 13 1

BOT 1: Andrew Fischer launches a no-doubt home run to right field. 

BOT 1: Dean Curley launches a home run that sneaks out to left field. 

BOT 2: Hunter Ensley doubles to score Jay Abernathy. 

TOP 3: Marcus Phillips walks in a run. 

TOP 3: Ryan Wideman hits a sacrifice fly to center. 

BOT 4: Cannon Peebles draws an RBI-walk. 

TOP 5: Ryan Wideman hits a solo shot to left field. 

BOT 5: Jay Abernathy singles up the middle to score Alex Perry. 

TOP 7: Ryan Wideman grounds into a fielder’s choice to score a run. 

BOT 7: Jay Abernathy hits a sacrifice fly to score Gavin Kilen.

BOT 8: Cannon Peebles hits and RBI single to right. 

BOT 8: Alex Perry hits a sac fly to score Peebles. 

BOT 10: Chris Newstrom draws an RBI walk.

BOT 10: Manny Marin hits a soft ground ball that scores another run. 

BOT 10: Blake Grimmer draws an RBI walk. 

BOT 10: Brooks Wright draws an RBI walk. 

TOP 11: Carlos Vasquez hits a home run. 

BOT 13: Stone Lawless hits a double to right field that brings home two runs. 

BOT 13: Hunter High brings in another run on an RBI-groundout. 

BOT 14: Kyle Hvidsten hits a home run to left field. 

Play-by-play updates

Top 1

–Liam Doyle strikes out Dylan O’Connell to open the exhibition. 

-Doyle strikes out Carlos Vasquez for out No. 2. 

-Doyle gets a fly out to left field to end the inning. 

Bot 1

–Jay Abernathy leads off with a fly out to the right field warning track.

-Hunter Ensley grounds out to second base. 

–SCORE: Andrew Fischer launches a no-doubt blast to right field to put Tennessee on the board. 

–SCORE: Dean Curley launches a home run that sneaks out of left field. 

-Cannon Peebles reaches on a misplayed ball by the Western Kentucky infield. It is ruled a hit. 

-Gavin Kilen wears one to reach base. 

-Alex Perry flies out to the warning track in centerfield to end the inning. 

Top 2

–Ryan Wideman singles with a line drive up the middle. 

-Ethan Lizama pops out to Dean Curley at second base. 

-Wideman steals second as Cannon Peebles’ throw sails wide right. 

-Henry Brown strikes out. 

-Drew Barragan strikes out to end the inning. 

Bot 2

–Reese Chapman strikes out swinging. 

-Colby Backus strikes out swinging. 

-Jay Abernathy hits a double down the right field line. 

-Abernathy advances to third on a wild pitch. 

SCORE: Hunter Ensley doubles to right-center and scores Abernathy. 

-Andrew Fischer draws a walk. 

-Dean Curley draws a walk to load the bases. 

-Cannon Peebles pops out to foul ground to end the inning. 

Top 3

Pitching change: Marcus Phillips is on to pitch for the Vols. 

–Marcus Phillips strikes out Caleb Niehaus. 

-Austin Haller doubles down the left-field line. 

-Dylan O’Connell reaches on a dribbler back to the pitcher then steals second.

-Carlos Vasquez draws a walk to load the bases. 

SCORE: Marcus Phillips walks Anthony Westbrook to bring home a run. 

SCORE: Ryan Wideman hits a sacrifice fly to center to score another run. 

-Ethan Lizama draws a walk to load the bases again.

Pitching change: Marcus Phillips exits for Andrew Behnke. 

-Behnke forces Henry Brown into a 6-3 groundout. Alex Perry makes a great pick at first. 

Bot 3

–Gavin Kilen reaches on an infield single. 

-Alex Perry grounds into a 6-4-3 double play. 

-Reese Chapman flies out to left field. 

Top 4

–Drew Barragan reaches on a single. 

-Caleb Niehaus gets hit by a pitch. 

-Austin Haller lays down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. 

-Dylan O’Connell lines out to second. 

-Carlos Vasquez flies out to left. 

Bot 4

–Colby Backus leads off with a single. 

-Jay Abernathy grounds into a fielder’s choice (4-6). 

-Hunter Ensley singles through the left side of the infield. 

-Andrew Fischer strikes out looking. 

-Dean Curley draws a walk. 

SCORE: Cannon Peebles draws an RBI-walk. 

-Gavin Kilen grounds out to end the inning. 

Top 5

Pitching change: Michael Sharman is on to pitch for the Vols. 

–Anthony Westbrook strikes out 

SCORE: Ryan Wideman hits a solo-shot to left field. 

-Ethan Lizama strikes out. 

-Henry Brown pops out to Cannon Peebles to end the inning. 

Bot 5

–Alex Perry draws a lead-off walk. 

-Reese Chapman grounds out to second base but advances Perry to second. 

-Colby Backus flies out to the track in left field, and Perry tags up to advance to third. 

SCORE: Jay Abernathy singles up the middle to score Perry. 

-Hunter Ensley strikes out to end the inning. 

Top 6

–Drew Barragan lines out to open the inning. 

-Caleb Niehaus singles into no man’s land behind first base. Alex Perry can’t glove it. 

-Cannon Peebles guns Niehaus out trying to still second. 

-Austin Haller strikes out to end the inning. 

Bot 6

–Andrew Fischer flies out to right field to begin the inning. 

-Dean Curley strikes out looking. 

-Cannon Peebles grounds out second base. 

Top 7

Pitching change: RHP Thomas Crabtree is on the bump for Tennessee. 

-Dylan O’Connell leads off with a single up the middle. 

-Carlos Vasquez draws a walk. 

-Anthony Westbrook hits a single just past the outstretched Hunter Ensley. 

SCORE: Ryan Wideman hits Into fielder’s choice (6-4). A run comes home on the hit. 

-Ethan Lizama strikes out swinging. 

-Kyle Hayes strikes out to end the inning. 

Bot 7

–Gavin Kilen reaches on a hit-by-pitch. 

-Alex Perry draws a walk. 

-Reese Chapman hits a fly ball to the centerfielder that hits him in the glove and he drops it. Scored as an error. 

-Colby Backus strikes out. 

SCORE: Jay Abernathy hits a sacrifice fly to bring home Gavin Kilen. 

-Reese Chapman is gunned at third to end the inning, and the run does not count. Tony Vitello is not pleased with the call. 

Top 8

Pitching change: RHP Austin Hunley is on to pitch. 

-Drew Barragan strikes out to open the inning. 

-Caleb Niehaus strikes out. 

-Austin Haller grounds out to short. 

Bot 8

–Andrew Fischer leads off with a base hit up the middle then steals second base. 

SCORE: Cannon Peebles hits an RBI double into right field. 

-Manny Marin hits a single just over the shortstop to set up runners on the corners. 

SCORE: Alex Perry hits a sacrifice fly to drive in Peebles. 

-Levi Clark strikes out to end the inning. 

Top 9

–Dylan O’Connell opens with a base hit to left. 

-Andrew Fischer flashes the arm to get a 4-3 and gun out Carlos Vasquez. 

-Anthony Westbrook grounds out to second but advances the runner to third. 

-Ryan Wideman grounds out to end the inning. 

Bot 9 

- Blake Grimmer strikes out. 

-Robinson Martin flies out to left. 

-Holden Brauner singles to right.

-Dane Morrow strikes out. 

Top 10

- Western Kentucky goes three up, three down, 

Bot 10

–Brayden Sharp opens the inning with a strikeout. 

-Jay Abernathy draws a walk. 

-Levi Clark strikes out. 

-Jay Abernathy steals second. 

-Stone Lawless draws a walk to give the Vols first and second. 

-Hunter High is hit by a pitch to load the bases for Tennessee. 

SCORE: Chris Newstrom draws an RBI walk to add to the Tennessee lead. 

SCORE: Manny Marin hits a soft ground ball to short that scores another run after he beats it out. 

SCORE: Blake Grimmer draws an RBI-walk. 

SCORE: Brooks Wright draws an RBI walk. 

-Brayden Sharp lines out to left. 

Top 11

SCORE: Carlos Vasquez hits a homer for the Hilltoppers. 

-Austin Haller strikes out. 

-Kyle Hayes pops out to center. 

-Nick Beech grounds out to short to end the inning. 

Bot 11

-Jaxon Walker grounds out to first. 

-Levi Clark strikes out. 

-Stone Lawless grounds out to first. 

Top 12

–Kyle Hvidsten draws a walk. 

-Reid Howard strikes out. 

-Austin Haller flies out to left. 

-Caleb Niehaus gets hit by a pitch. 

-Ryan Wideman strikes out to end the inning. 

Bot 12

–Hunter High draws a lead off walk to begin the 12th. 

-Chris Newstrom singles up the middle to setup runners on first and second for the Vols. 

-Manny Marin draws a walk to load the bases. 

SCORE: Blake Grimmer grounds into a 4-6-3 double play but a run does come home. 

-Brooks Wright grounds into a 6-3 to end the inning. 

Top 13

–Caleb Marmo leads off with a single. 

-Sharp gets a fly out to left. 

-Kyle Hayes strikes out 

-Nick Beech strikes out to end the inning. 

Bot 13

–Brayden Sharp strikes out to open the inning. 

-Jaxon Walker reaches on an error on a routine pop fly. 

-Levi Clark bloops a hit into left field. 

SCORE: Stone Lawless hits a two-RBI double to right field. 

SCORE: Hunter High brings home a run on a groundout to first. 

-Chris Newstrom flies out to end the inning. 

Top 14

SCORE: Kyle Hvidsten leads off the 14th with a home run to left. 

-Reid Howard strikes out looking. 

-Henry Brown strikes out. 

-Caleb Niehaus gets thrown out at first on a dribbler. 

Bot 14

–Dane Morrow gets a base hit but is thrown out advancing to second. 

-Blake Grimmer draws a walk.