Tennessee Baseball Hopes to Spark Season Revival Against Vanderbilt
As the Tennessee Volunteers prepare to face off with Vanderbilt this weekend in Knoxville, the team finds itself at a crossroads. With the regular season winding down and postseason implications looming, this series could be the catalyst the Vols need to reignite their campaign. The matchup evokes memories of 2023, when a dramatic home run by then-freshman Dylan Dreiling helped Tennessee turn their season around. The Vols hope history repeats itself.
In April 2023, Tennessee was down to its final out when Dreiling, a pinch hitter, launched a game-tying home run against Vanderbilt at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols eventually won that game in extra innings, sparking a series win and an impressive comeback that led them to their second College World Series appearance in three years. Now, in 2025, they find themselves in need of a similar jolt.
Tennessee currently stands at 38-11 overall and 14-10 in SEC play, ranked No. 15 in the country. However, they’ve hit a rough patch, losing three straight conference series—the first time that’s happened under head coach Tony Vitello. Most recently, the Vols dropped a series to Auburn, one marred by long weather delays and a Sunday doubleheader. That loss extended a streak of four defeats in their last five games.
Despite this skid, the Vols are still projected as a top-16 national seed and are in line to host a regional in the NCAA Tournament. But with tough matchups ahead—including road games against Arkansas—Tennessee knows it must find momentum fast. The weekend series with Vanderbilt offers the perfect stage to do just that.
Coach Vitello isn’t panicking. He believes the team just needs to stay the course and trust its process. “The moments that last forever usually come from teams that stay consistent and keep grinding, even when things aren’t going perfectly,” he said earlier this week. “The good teams keep their routines and don’t overcomplicate things.”
Vitello noted that while the Vols need to clean up some aspects of their game, major changes aren’t necessary. Instead, he emphasized putting pitchers in the right matchups and letting them play to their strengths. “We’ve got talent on the staff,” he explained. “It’s about giving them situations where they can succeed—even if it means doing something out of the ordinary.”
Pitching, in fact, remains a strength for Tennessee, especially with left-hander Liam Doyle having an outstanding season. The team’s overall talent and depth give them reason for optimism, but inconsistency in the field and on the basepaths has cost them games recently. Errors that extend innings and poor baserunning decisions have made an impact.
Offensively, Tennessee still ranks among the best in the SEC, sitting third in slugging percentage at .574 and leading with 107 home runs. That power gives them the ability to change games quickly, but the Vols haven’t always executed when needed. Vitello stressed the importance of players not trying to be heroes with every at-bat. “Our hitters need to know they don’t have to win the game with one swing,” he said. “It’s about bringing the right mindset every day and improving mentally.”
Vanderbilt, on the other hand, comes into Knoxville riding some positive momentum. The Commodores are 34-15 overall and share the same conference record as Tennessee at 14-10. They’ve won two of their last three series, including a sweep of Georgia, and are trending toward a top-eight national seed.
The strength of Vanderbilt’s team lies in its pitching staff. Their rotation is anchored by left-handed starter J.D. Thompson (4-4, 3.95 ERA) and right-hander Conner Fennell (5-0, 3.20 ERA). Those two have provided consistency and have helped Vanderbilt stay in close games. According to Vitello, while he doesn’t know every detail about this year’s Commodores, he expects the usual: a fundamentally sound, well-coached, and competitive team.
“They’ve got guys who were highly regarded coming into the league,” he said. “They’ve always had players who know how to compete, even as freshmen. We’ll need to be ready for a full three-day battle.”
Though Vanderbilt has been effective on the mound, they rank in the lower half of the SEC in hitting, with a slugging percentage of .427 and only 48 home runs. This is where Tennessee’s offensive firepower could become a decisive advantage—if the Vols can capitalize. In recent weeks, their bats have gone cold at key moments, something they’ll need to correct against a solid opponent like Vandy.
The series is about more than just wins and losses—it’s about finding momentum. A strong showing could restore confidence and send the team into the postseason on a high note. Tennessee’s final regular-season stretch includes a trip to Arkansas, making this home series all the more important.
As Vitello sees it, now is the time for his team to come together. The foundation is there: a talented roster, a seasoned coaching staff, and the experience of having bounced back from adversity before. With the SEC Tournament on the horizon and NCAA play approaching, the Vols have the opportunity to write a new chapter—one that echoes the heroics of 2023.
“We’ve been in this spot before,” Vitello said. “We know what it takes to turn things around. It’s just about executing and trusting each other.”
For the Volunteers, the coming weekend offers more than a chance to add to the win column. It’s an opportunity to rediscover their identity and reclaim the momentum that once made them one of the nation’s most feared teams. If they can do that, a deep postseason run could still be in the cards.
