Tennessee baseball, ranked No. 1 in the nation, suffered its first loss of the season on Tuesday night, falling to East Tennessee State University (ETSU) by a score of 7-6 in a thrilling extra-inning contest at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. This defeat not only snapped a remarkable 22-game winning streak but also brought an end to the Vols' perfect start to the 2025 season, leaving their record at 20-1.
ETSU, boasting a solid record of 16-4, made a statement with this victory, marking one of the most impressive wins in college baseball this season. The game began with ETSU striking first, when Cooper Torres hit an RBI single in the top of the first inning to give the Buccaneers an early 1-0 lead. However, Tennessee quickly retaliated, leveraging a fielding error to score two runs, with Reese Chapman getting credited for a big hit.
As the game progressed, ETSU leveled the score in the second inning with a solo home run, showcasing their offensive prowess. The game turned into an intense battle, with Tennessee managing to tie it back up in the seventh inning, thanks to a significant two-run double from Hunter Ensley.
Just when it looked like Tennessee had a comfortable lead, with the score standing at 6-4 after Ensley's remarkable double in the eighth, ETSU refused to back down. Jamie Palmese's two-run homer in the top of the ninth sent the game into extras, raising the tension for the home crowd.
In the tenth inning, Grant Gallagher provided the decisive blow for ETSU, hitting a solo shot that put the Buccaneers ahead for good. Tennessee attempted a comeback, loading the bases in the bottom half, but Chris Newstrom struck out to seal the Vols' fate.
Tennessee's head coach, Tony Vitello, reflected on the loss, stating, "I think a bunch of it was a team making plays, whether it's hitting the ball out of the ball park, or making plays on defense. There's a couple times they didn't make plays on defense that we could have taken advantage of and didn't fully do. But I think a lot of it is credit to them, and a lot of it is poor decisions by me and it coming back to bite us a little bit. And then also some guys getting exposed from having a little bit of fear." His insights highlighted the complexity of the game and the need for the team to learn from this loss as they move forward.
This defeat marked Tennessee's first regular-season loss since May 2024 and their first overall loss since the 2024 College World Series opening loss to Texas A&M. The Vols had hoped to tie their program record for consecutive wins, set in 2022 with 23 victories.
Looking ahead, Tennessee will face off against No. 12 Alabama in an important three-game series starting Thursday, March 20, 2025. The first game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN. This series presents an opportunity for the Vols to rebound and reinforce their status as a formidable contender in college baseball.
As the players recover from this frustrating setback, the focus will undoubtedly shift toward preparing for Alabama, ensuring that the lessons learned from this game lay the groundwork for future success.
