HOOVER, Ala. – On the second day and second round of the 2025 SEC Tournament at Hoover MET on an 83-degree sunny day, the defending national champions and No. 8 seed Tennessee Volunteers beat the No. 9 seed Alabama Crimson Tide 15-10.
The game lasted three hours and 58 minutes.
The Volunteers improved to 42-15 overall and 16-14 in SEC play under head coach Tony Vitello.
Alabama fell to 41-16 overall with a 16-14 conference record under head coach Rob Vaughn.
Tennessee will face the No. 1 seed Texas Longhorns on Thursday, May 22, on SEC Network at 4 p.m. EDT.
Alabama is ranked No. 23 and Tennessee No. 21 by D1Baseball.com during the week of May 19.
The Volunteers got on the board early in the bottom of the first inning, when Hunter Hensley drove an RBI double down the left field line, scoring first baseman Andrew Fischer for a 1-0 lead.
Quick strike Vols!
📺 https://t.co/ZSf7MY7Zvf (SECN)
#GBO // #OTH // #BeatBama pic.twitter.com/mfk5Itzzz6
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 21, 2025
In the bottom of the second inning, Tennessee tacked on another run when shortstop Galvin Kilen singled up the middle, scoring right fielder Reese Chapman to make it 2-0.
The boys are cookin' here in the early going!
📺 https://t.co/ZSf7MY7Zvf (SECN)
#GBO // #OTH // #BeatBama pic.twitter.com/T50AuDQBEa
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 21, 2025
Alabama scored in the top of the fourth when center fielder Richie Bonomolo Jr. hit a double to left-center, scoring Bryce Fowler to cut it to 2-1. Bonomolo Jr. tried to stretch the double into a triple but was tagged out at second by Dean Curley. After a review, the call was reversed and Bonomolo was ruled safe.
In the bottom of the fourth, Kilen stayed hot and delivered a two-run single, scoring Levi Clark and Cannon Peebles to extend the lead to 4-1.
Hit it where they ain't!
📺 https://t.co/ZSf7MY7Zvf (SECN) #GBO // #OTH // #BeatBama pic.twitter.com/r1lwjrsVYQ
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 21, 2025
A few moments later, Kilen scored on a wild pitch during Hensley’s at-bat to make it 5-1.
Tennessee starting pitcher Marcus Phillips exited in the top of the fifth after allowing a leadoff double to Jason Torres and walking catcher Brady Neal. Brandon Arvidson entered in relief.
Phillips went four innings, allowing four hits, one earned run, two walks, and five strikeouts on 72 pitches (43 strikes).
Phillips is ranked No. 69 on the MLBPipeline.com Top 150 Draft Prospect list and features a fastball touching 101 mph along with effective off-speed pitches.
Marcus Phillips (Jr. @Vol_Baseball) mowing dudes down early here. Living 98-99, grabbing 3 digits, up to 101. Ripping 3K breakers at 89-90 and flashed CH at 93. Pitch quality matches pure velo. Likely top 3 round pick & #PGJC alum. ‘25 Elig.@PG_Draft @vcervinoPG @TsutherlandPG… pic.twitter.com/1SfWF00IZw
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) May 21, 2025
Alabama stormed back in the top of the fifth. Second baseman Brennen Norton lined an RBI single to score Jason Torres, cutting it to 5-2.
Clawing back!@cubancaballo I #RollTide I 📺 SECN pic.twitter.com/srxDuay17i
— Alabama Baseball (@AlabamaBSB) May 21, 2025
Left fielder Kade Snell reached on a throwing error from Curley, allowing Neal and Norton to score and trim the lead to 5-4.
Graciously accepted.#RollTide I 📺 SECN pic.twitter.com/As556seUxv
— Alabama Baseball (@AlabamaBSB) May 21, 2025
Bonomolo Jr. gave Alabama the lead with a two-run double to left-center, scoring Justin Lebron and Snell to make it 6-5.
Left the door cracked, and Rich kicks it open!@BonomoloJr_ I #RollTide I 📺 SECN pic.twitter.com/vG94qD1QZJ
— Alabama Baseball (@AlabamaBSB) May 21, 2025
“To grab the lead there in the middle is exactly where you want to be,” Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn said. “And then we just couldn’t stop them. That offense was firing on all cylinders today. They didn’t make mistakes. They capitalized on stuff. At the end of the day, we just couldn’t slow them down.”
In the bottom of the fifth, Peebles tied the game at 6-6 with an RBI single to right-center, scoring Clark.
Nice response with a two-out rally here to tie things back up!
📺 https://t.co/ZSf7MY7Zvf (SECN) #GBO // #OTH // #BeatBama pic.twitter.com/4WVsGmMWz5
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 21, 2025
Tennessee retook the lead in the sixth, when Dalton Bargo hit an RBI single through the left side, scoring Kilen for a 7-6 edge.
A few batters later, Chapman drove in Hensley and Bargo with a two-run single to make it 9-6.
It's a Big Orange hit parade in Hoover!
📺 https://t.co/ZSf7MY7Zvf (SECN) #GBO // #OTH // #BeatBama pic.twitter.com/Xaotlj2Dfy
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 21, 2025
Clark added to the tally with an RBI double to right-center, scoring Curley to make it 10-6. Chapman was thrown out at the plate by Bonomolo Jr. after a successful review.
Levi with his third hit of the day and that'll drive in another! Chapman is out at home after review.
📺 https://t.co/ZSf7MY7Zvf (SECN) #GBO // #OTH // #BeatBama pic.twitter.com/rT3quSDl5Q
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 21, 2025
“Our hitting coach does a great job with the scouting report,” said Alabama’s Richie Bonomolo Jr. “We go up there with a plan, and I just executed it. When you’re doing it for your team, it feels even better.”
Peebles stayed locked in, adding another RBI single to score Clark and extend the lead to 11-6.
In the bottom of the eighth, Chapman launched a two-run homer to right, scoring Ariel Antigua to make it 13-6.
Third baseman Manny Marin joined the offensive barrage with a two-run double down the left field line, scoring Colby Backus and Peebles to stretch the lead to 15-6.
SEASON HIGH 20 HITS!
📺 https://t.co/ZSf7MY7Zvf (SECN) #GBO // #OTH // #BeatBama pic.twitter.com/JLKK9VF3qy
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 21, 2025
Alabama mounted a rally in the ninth, beginning with a two-run single by Lebron to center, scoring Neal and Norton to make it 15-8.
Snell followed with a sacrifice fly to right, bringing in Fowler for a 15-9 score.
Bonomolo Jr. capped his day with an RBI single to center, scoring Lebron for Alabama’s final run at 15-10.
Reliever Brayden Krenzel struck out Wil Hodo to end it, sealing the 15-10 win for the Volunteers.
Tennessee relief pitcher AJ Russell earned the win, improving to 2-1. He threw 3.2 innings, allowing two earned runs, one walk, and striking out five on 72 pitches (43 strikes).
“We’ve been talking a lot with the pitching coaches about answering after our offense scores,” said Tennessee reliever AJ Russell. “To be able to do that and put up zeros felt really good. It gave me and the team momentum.”
Alabama committed two errors and left four runners on base. They will await their NCAA Tournament placement on Selection Monday, May 26, at 12 p.m. EDT on ESPNU.
2025 SEC Baseball Tournament Schedule
All Game Start Times Are Eastern Daylight Time
*Second Game Of Each Session Will Begin Approximately 30 Minutes After The Conclusion Of First Game
Tuesday-Sunday, May 20-25
Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Hoover, Ala.
Tuesday, May 20 – First Round
Game 1: No. 9 Alabama 4, No. 16 Missouri 1 – Final
*Game 2: No. 12 Oklahoma, No. 13 Kentucky 1 – Final
Game 3: No. 10 Florida 11, No. 15 South Carolina 3 – Final
Wednesday, May 21 – Second Round
Game 4: No. 14 Texas A&M 9, No. 11 Mississippi State 0 – 9:30 a.m. – SECN
Game 5: No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Tennessee – TBD – SECN
*Game 6: No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 5 Georgia – 4:30 p.m. – SECN
Game 7: No. 10 Florida vs. No. 7 Ole Miss – TBD – SECN
Thursday, May 22 – Quarterfinals
Game 8: No. 14 Texas A&M vs. No. 6 Auburn – 12 p.m. – SECN
*Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. No. 1 Texas – 4 p.m. – SECN
*Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. No. 4 Vanderbilt – 7 p.m. – SECN
Friday, May 23 – Quarterfinals
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. No. 2 Arkansas – 4 p.m. – SECN
*Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. No. 3 LSU – 7 p.m. – SECN
Saturday, May 24 – Semifinals
Game 13: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 – 1 p.m. – SECN
*Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12 – 4 p.m.- SECN
Sunday, May 25 – Championship Game
Game 15: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14 – 3 p.m. – ESPN2
SEC MLBPipeline.com Top 150 Draft Prospects
No. 7 – OF – Jace LaViolette – Texas A&M
No. 8 – RHP – Kyson Witherspoon – Oklahoma
No. 9 – LHP – Kade Anderson – Louisiana State
No. 10 – LHP – Liam Doyle – Tennessee
No. 16 – 2B – Gavin Kilen – Tennessee
No. 20 – OF/C – Ike Irish – Auburn
No. 24 – SS – Wehiwa Aloy – Arkansas
No. 28 – OF – Max Belyeu – Texas
No. 33 – RHP – Riley Quick – Alabama
No. 35 – 1B/3B – Andrew Fischer – Tennessee
No. 36 – OF/3B – Ethan Petry – South Carolina
No. 44 – LHP – Zach Root – Arkansas
No. 54 – SS/3B – Dean Curley – Tennessee
No. 55 – RHP – A.J. Russell – Tennessee
No. 60 – OF – Charles Davalan – Arkansas
No. 66 – 2B – Daniel Dickinson – Louisiana State
No. 69 – RHP – Marcus Phillips – Tennessee
No. 72 – LHP – J.D. Thompson – Vanderbilt
No. 78 – RHP – Chase Shores – Louisiana State
No. 79 – LHP- Jared Spencer – Texas
No. 90 – 1B – Jared Jones – Louisiana State
No. 99 – LHP – Justin Lamkin – Texas A&M
No. 100 – OF – RJ Austin – Vanderbilt
No. 101 – C – Easton Carmichael – Oklahoma
No. 102 – LHP – Pico Kohn – Mississippi State
No. 113 – RHP – Nate Snead – Tennessee
No. 116 – RHP – Mason Morris – Mississippi
No. 117 – SS – Jalin Morris – Texas
No. 123 – OF/1B – Tre Phelps – Georgia
No. 131 – SS – Colby Shelton – Florida
No. 133 – RHP – Malachi Witherspoon – Oklahoma
No. 141 – 3B – Brent Iredale – Arkansas
