Vols Dominate in Josh Elander’s Debut, Blank Nicholls 10-0 in Knoxville
If there were any questions about how Tennessee would look under new head coach Josh Elander, the Volunteers wasted no time answering them.
Opening Day in Knoxville wasn’t just a win - it was a statement. Tennessee came out firing and never let up, cruising to a 10-0 run-rule victory over Nicholls to open the 2026 season and the Elander era in style.
From the first pitch, this looked like classic Tennessee baseball: aggressive at the plate, sharp on the mound, and relentless in execution.
Quick Start, Big Bats
It didn’t take long for the Vols to get on the board. Blaine Brown, making his Tennessee debut, singled in his first at-bat and immediately made an impact. Reese Chapman followed that up with an opposite-field double to bring him home - a tone-setter for what would be a long day for Nicholls pitching.
Chapman wasn’t done. In the third, he laced another double, this time driving in a second run. Stone Lawless followed with a double of his own to score Chapman, and just like that, Tennessee was up 3-0 and in full control.
Kuhns in Command
On the mound, Teagan Kuhns was in complete command. Coming off a strong summer in the Cape Cod League, the right-hander looked every bit the part of a Friday night ace.
Kuhns went 6.2 innings, throwing 86 pitches and striking out eight while allowing just two hits and one walk. Nicholls simply had no answer for his mix of velocity and command.
Ford’s First Impression
Henry Ford, the former Virginia Cavalier, made his Tennessee debut hitting leadoff - and he made it count. In the fourth inning, Ford launched a two-run shot to dead center, stretching the lead to 5-0 and putting the game even further out of reach. His bat looked right at home in the middle of this Vols lineup.
Antigua Adds On
Ariel Antigua chipped in with RBIs in both the fifth and seventh innings, continuing to apply pressure to a Nicholls team that never found its footing. His ability to produce in key spots helped Tennessee keep the scoreboard moving and the momentum squarely on their side.
Back-to-Back Blasts Seal It
With the Vols up 8-0 in the bottom of the eighth, Tennessee put the finishing touches on the win in emphatic fashion. Tyler Myatt, a JUCO transfer, crushed a solo shot to right.
Moments later, Lawless followed with a homer of his own to left. Back-to-back bombs sealed the run-rule victory and capped off a dominant offensive showing.
Balanced Attack, Clean Finish
Tennessee finished with 11 hits and got production up and down the lineup. Lawless, Antigua, and Ford each drove in two runs, and the Vols looked every bit like a team ready to contend from the jump.
Nic Abraham came in to record the final four outs, retiring every batter he faced and preserving the shutout.
Final Word
This was as clean and convincing an opener as Tennessee could’ve hoped for. A dominant start on the mound, timely power at the plate, and a deep lineup that kept the pressure on from the first inning to the last - all signs point to a team that’s not just reloading, but reasserting itself.
The Vols take a 1-0 lead in the series, and if today’s performance is any indication, they’re just getting started.