Photo via Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee baseball jumped on Oakland with a three-run first inning and cruised past the Grizzlies for a 11-2 midweek victory. Multiple players made their Tennessee debut while Blake Grimmer tore the cover off the ball.

Here’s how the Vols got it done against Oakland for their fourth straight win.

Welcome Back Blake Grimmer

There was plenty of buzz around Blake Grimmer this offseason as the redshirt sophomore looked to earn a starting spot in the Vols’ lineup. But preseason lower back pain kept Grimmer out of Tennessee’s lineup until his season debut Wednesday.

Grimmer immediately made his presence felt, roping a 3-1 pitch off the top of the fall in left-center field for a two-RBI double. He did not slow down from there, adding a single and another double— this time down the left field line.

The left-handed slugger finished the night three-for-four at the plate with two doubles and a striekout.

It is just one game against a bad opponent, and Grimmer has had plenty of midweek success in the past. Still, Grimmer made the most of his debut and has made it difficult for Josh Elander to take him out of the lineup this weekend.

Grimmer started at first base while Levi Clark had the day off but eventually moved to left field later in the third. He can also play third base though Henry Ford has been a staple there so far this season.

It Was The Quite The Start For Taylor Tracey

Two-way freshman Taylor Tracey had made three relief appearances early in the 2026 season, but made his first start of the year against the Grizzlies. The left-handed hitter was dominant in a perfect three innings of work.

Not only did Tracey retire all nine batters he faced but he struck out seven of them. The tall freshman struck out a pair of batters in both the first and second innings before striking out the side in the third inning. Tracey had been solid in his previous three relief outings but not nearly as good as he was against Oakland.

Tracey has been on the outside looking in as far as bullpen trust so far this season. We’ll see if this earns him an more opportunities.

For the first time this season, the Austin native got at-bats but did not turn any heads there going zero-for-two with a strikeout and a shallow fly out to right field.

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Three Players (Effectively) Made Their Tennessee Debuts

Tennessee worked in two freshman pitchers who effectively made their college debuts against Oakland while Bowling Green transfer Garrett Wright was in the starting lineup for the first time this season.

Wright was a defensive substitute last Tuesday but got the start in centerfield against Oakland. The Bowling Green single-season hit-by pitch record holder was promptly hit-by a pitch in his first at-bat. He was hit by another pitch in the seventh inning. Wright struck out in his second at-bat, laid down a RBI bunt single in his third and singled to left field in his fifth.

Right-handed pitcher Jax Bishop was the first pitcher to make his college debut, coming in to pitch the sixth inning. Bishop retired the side around a two-out, solo home run from Kyle Revere.

Left-handed pitcher Will Haas had a similar outing, allowing a solo home run to left field to lead off the inning and later a two-out single. Both pitchers are coming off arm injuries that cost them their fall practice.

Box Score

Up Next

Tennessee baseball is back in action this weekend when they host Wright State in its final series of non conference play. First pitch for the weekend series is at 7 p.m. ET on Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.