Despite Stellar Start from Mack, Vols Drop Game One to LSU

Friday, April 3

Knoxville, Tenn.

5:30 PM ET

University of Tennessee

19-11, 3-7

LSU

21-10, 5-5

LSU

Tennessee

Despite Stellar Start from Mack, Vols Drop Game One to LSU

April 03, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Josh Elander Postgame Presser Reese Chapman Posgame Media Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee dropped game one versus LSU on Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, 7-5, despite a dazzling performance from sophomore right-hander Landon Mack.

Mack was excellent in his first Friday night start of the season. The sophomore logged a season-high seven innings pitched and struck out 10, retiring the last 14 batters he faced.

The Tigers (21-10, 5-5 SEC) threatened with two outs in the top of the second after two singles and a walk loaded the bases, but Mack got out of the jam after left fielder Chris Stanfield popped out to shortstop to strand three.

Right fielder Jake Brown got LSU on the board in the top of the third with a solo home run, but UT catcher Levi Clark answered right back in the bottom half of the inning by launching a solo blast into the second deck of the porches to tie the game at one apiece.

The Volunteers (19-11, 3-7 SEC) got right back to work an inning later, following a jam-shot single into short left field by Blake Grimmer, senior Reese Chapman sent an 0-1 pitch through the flag poles in right center field to give UT a 3-1 lead heading to the fifth.

After a couple of quiet innings from both sides, the Big Orange pushed their fourth run across in the bottom of the eighth. Reliever Santiago Garcia walked in a run after UT loaded the bases with two walks and a single, making the score 4-1.

The Bayou Bengals responded in the top of the eighth with five runs on back-to-back two-out homers, including a grand slam from Derek Curiel to put LSU in front. A solo shot by Seth Dardar followed, giving the Tigers a two-run lead.

Stanfield added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning with a solo home run of his own, pushing the score to 7-4.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Grimmer hit his fourth home run of the season to bring the Vols within two, but that would be all they would get as Deven Sheerin closed the door to seal the win.

Despite the loss, Chapman had a standout performance, finishing 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and a leaping catch at the right-field wall to rob a home run from Steven Milam to end the fifth inning.

UP NEXT: Tennessee will be back in action Saturday night at LNS for game two against the Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN2.