The Official #15 seed South Carolina @ #10 seed Tennessee SEC Tourney Game Thread (Tues. 5/19 5:30PM ET SECN)

#1

NO SIR EEE

The Sultan Of Swat
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#15 South Carolina Gamecocks
(0-0) SEC Tournament

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@
#10 Tennessee Volunteers
(0-0) SEC Tournament
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HOOVER, Ala.
– No. 20/23 Tennessee will look to continue its recent run of successful visits to the Hoover Met this weekend as it opens what it hopes to be a long week in the state of Alabama against South Carolina in the first round of the 2026 SEC Baseball Tournament on Tuesday evening at 5:30 p.m. ET.

The Volunteers enter this year's tournament as the No. 10 seed after finishing with a 15-15 record in conference play following back-to-back series wins over No. 4 Texas and No. 20 Oklahoma to wrap up the regular season.

They'll take on the No. 15 seed Gamecocks in the third game of Tuesday's opening round after the two teams did not meet in the regular season for the first time since USC joined the SEC in 1992.

BROADCAST INFO

Every game in this year's SEC Tournament will be televised on the SEC Network until Sunday's championship game, which will be broadcast on ABC.

The full list of announcers for this year's tournament include Tom Hart (PxP), Dave Neal (PxP), Karl Ravech (PxP), VFL Chris Burke (analyst), Kyle Peterson (analyst), Todd Walker (analyst), Lance Cormier (analyst) and Kris Budden (field reporter).
Neal and Cormier will have the call for Tennessee's opening game against South Carolina on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson call the action for the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990) as well as via a free audio stream on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.

SEC TOURNAMENT HISTORY

Appearances: 21
Tournament Titles: 5 (2024, 2022, 1995, 1994, 1993)
Overall Record: 38-30 (.559)
Last Appearance: 2025 (2-1) | Semifinals
Last 10 Games: 7-3

The Vols will be looking to win their third SEC Tournament title in the past five years (2022, 2024) and advance to the semifinals or further for the third straight season.

NOTABLE

Hoover Highs This Decade
The Vols have had unprecedented success in Hoover this decade, posting an 15-6 overall record at the event in their six appearances since 2021. UT is 7-3 in its last 10 games in Hoover and has advanced to Sunday's championship game in three of the past five seasons (2021, 2022, 2024) while winning a pair of tournament titles in that span (2022, 2024).

Prior to 2020, Tennessee had made just four SEC Tournament appearances since 2008 and had not won a game in Hoover since 2007.

Another Successful SEC Slate
After finishing at 15-15 in conference play this year, it marked the sixth straight season that UT has finished SEC play with a .500 record or better, marking the first time the program has done that since the league went to a 30-game schedule in 1996.

Three Vols Earn SEC Honors
Tennessee had three players earn SEC postseason honors as the league announced its yearly award winners and All-SEC teams on Monday afternoon. Headlining the group of Volunteers was Tegan Kuhns, who was tabbed an All-SEC second team selection as a starting pitcher after finishing the regular season with a 5-4 record and ranking among the SEC leaders in strikeout-to-walk ratio (third - 6.67), strikeouts (t-fourth – 100) and ERA (ninth – 3.39).

The Vols also had a pair of youngsters earn recognition in designated hitter Trent Grindlingerand left-handed reliever Cam Appenzeller, marking the fifth time in program history that UT has had multiple players earn SEC All-Freshman Team honors and just the second time since 2008. Appenzeller is slated to make his second start in Tuesday's opening round game against the Gamecocks.

More on Tennessee's SEC honorees can be found HERE.

Hitting Has Shifted into High Gear
The bats have hit their stride in a big way in recent weeks as the Vols have been one of the league's most productive offensive teams down the stretch. Over its final five SEC series, UT scored seven or more runs in nine of its 15 games, posting a 7-2 record when doing so. The Big Orange scored 10-plus runs five times in that stretch and were a perfect 5-0 in those contests.

During its first 15 conference games, Tennessee averaged 5.8 runs per game and hit just 20 home runs. In its last 15 SEC games, the Vols have averaged nearly two more runs per game (7.5) and blasted 33 homers.

Since the calendar turned to April, the Big Orange have really increased their power numbers, as well, hitting 65 long balls in just 27 games, an average of 2.4 per game, to go along with 54 doubles and three triples.

ON DECK

Following the SEC Tournament, the Vols will await their NCAA Tournament draw and regional destination.

The NCAA Baseball Selection Show will air on ESPN at noon ET on Monday, May 25.
 
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#13
#13
Fly ball to CF, 1 away for Ducks…0-1, 1-1, nobody wants to win, ground out, nice play 3B…0-1, 1-1, 2-1, foul 2-2, foul, foul, 3-2, nope we head to top 14!
 
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#14
#14
In total, both teams, 19 LOB…T14 here we go…0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, foul, K swinging! 1 down…1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, pull USC is on via LF…1-1, popped up 2 down…0-1, catcher with a fantastic play…we head to B14.
 
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#17
#17
From what I'm reading here, it seems as though hosting is nigh impossible no matter what we do at Hoover? Maybe rest some arms and guys with nagging issues and get things set up for the tournament? Hate to sound like the conference tournament is meaningless, but....
 
#19
#19
With a decent effort, Vols should be able to take SC, and have a shot at Ark, but I can't see them going beyond that due to lack of pitching depth. Pitching needs to be a priority in the transfer portal for next year. GBO 🟧⬜🟧⬜ ⚾🍊🍊🍊

I wonder if we go with our normal rotation or hold Kuhns until Wednesday. He’d be going on short rest.

Depends on how seriously Josh takes the SECT, but if we could get by SC with a bullpen game, then have Kuhns against Arkansas, Blanco against Texas, and (maybe) Mack against aTm, we might could make a run.
 
#20
#20
With a decent effort, Vols should be able to take SC, and have a shot at Ark, but I can't see them going beyond that due to lack of pitching depth. Pitching needs to be a priority in the transfer portal for next year. GBO 🟧⬜🟧⬜ ⚾🍊🍊🍊
Not sure what our pitching plan will be but maybe start Taylor or Abraham see if they can handle the USC bats. Bullpen needs to win us one for 3 Ws, this is that game.
 
#22
#22
I say this with the disclaimer that anything can happen in Hoover, but South Carolina has spent the past month playing like they are just "going through the motions" to get to the end of the season. I'd like to see us put them out of their misery on Tuesday afternoon/evening.
Cutting Mainieri loose then a brutal SEC schedule, yep they're ready for offseason and a new coaching hire.
 

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