Tennessee Baseball Set for High-Profile Test at Globe Life Field

Knoxville, TN - It’s a new year for Tennessee Baseball. A highly anticipated look at the new Skipper will garner national attention in his home state of Texas. Josh Elander’s first full season as Head Coach will be tested early at The Amegy Bank College Baseball Series in Arlington, Texas.

The games run Feb. 27–March 1 at Globe Life Field. The neutral-site series, hosted inside the home of the Texas Rangers, brings together six nationally recognized programs and will serve as a high-profile measuring stick for the Vols before SEC play begins. 

Tennessee was picked to finish sixth in the 2026 Southeastern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll and had three players named to the preseason all-conference teams, as announced by the league office on Thursday.

Henry Ford and Brandon Arvidson were both tabbed as first-team selections while Levi Clark earned a spot on the second team.

A Premier Non-Conference Showcase

The Amegy Bank College Baseball Series has grown into one of the marquee early-season events in college baseball, featuring top-tier teams from across the country in a round-robin format that emphasizes competitive balance and national exposure. Tennessee will face three Power-5 opponents over three days. These innings offer unique strategic challenges and opportunities for player development. 

Coach Elander joined the media conference call today to preview the tournament and said this:

“I know last time we went down to the event, I think we opened up and played a really good Texas Tech team, and AJ Russell really threw the ball well. It’s just a great event, right? A major league stadium. I think the guys get really excited for it, and it’s just run at a very high level, where even just the length of practice time or the pregame, we’re able to get everything done throughout the course of the deal.”

Game 1 Tennessee vs. UCLA

Friday, February 27

First Pitch: 3:00 p.m. ET

The Volunteers open the series with a marquee matchup against the UCLA Bruins. This is a program with a strong recent history of postseason success and a high national profile. UCLA figures to be among the toughest non-conference opponents on Tennessee’s schedule, offering a formidable combination of pitching depth and offensive firepower. 

This first game will set the tone for Tennessee’s weekend in Arlington and provide an early barometer of how the Vols match up against elite competition. 

Scouting report on this game: 

• UCLA’s pitching staff blends experienced upperclassmen with emerging arms with sufficient depth to limit big innings.

• Roch Cholowsky (SS): UCLA’s standout shortstop is arguably the top player in college baseball and a projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. In 2025, he hit over .350 with 23 home runs and 74 RBIs while earning Player of the Year honors, demonstrating elite contact, power, and on-base skills.  

• Mulivai Levu (1B): A powerful run producer who finished near the top of the NCAA in RBIs last season, anchoring the middle of the lineup and providing consistent slugging. 

  
  
  
  
  
  

Game 2 Tennessee vs. Arizona State

Saturday, February 28

First pitch: 11:00am ET

Saturday presents a different stylistic matchup as Tennessee squares off with Arizona State. The Sun Devils  a traditional baseball power with a rich pedigree that brings athleticism and a disciplined approach to the plate. After the intense opener against UCLA, this mid-day contest will test the Vols’ ability to maintain focus and adapt offensively and on the mound. 

Scouting report for this game: 

• Rotation Depth Uncertainty: While ASU occasionally features flashes of top arms, consistency over nine innings can vary on a game-to-game basis. If their starters find rhythm, they’re capable of keeping games close.

  
  

• Defensive efficiency and execution in high-leverage spots will be key for ASU’s success.

  
  

• Balanced Lineup: ASU typically fields a lineup with a mix of experienced upperclassmen and high-ceiling underclassmen. Their offensive profile emphasizes both run production and situational hitting.

  
  
  
  

Game 3 Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech 

Sunday, March 1

First Pitch: 10:30 a.m. ET

Tennessee concludes its Globe Life Field slate against Virginia Tech in the early Sunday morning game. This matchup yields both historical ties and a chance to close the weekend on a high note. While the Hokies are traditionally competitive with power-conference opponents, this finale will offer Tennessee the final opportunity to conclude the non-conference stretch with momentum heading into midweek games and, ultimately, league play. 

Scouting report for this game:

• Pitching Depth: Virginia Tech possesses a mix of returning arms like Brett Renfrow and Preston Crowl. Both are capable of logging significant innings and keeping pitch counts manageable. Their pitching staff leans on poise and sequence execution.

  
  

• Balanced Offense: Contributors like senior catcher Henry Cooke provides stability at the plate and value in situational hitting and run production.

  
  
  
  

Strategic Stakes and Broader Context

From a program perspective, the Arlington series serves multiple critical purposes:

• Evaluation of Personnel Under Pressure: Early-season neutral-site competition allows coaching staff to assess depth, rotation sequencing, bullpen reliability, and situational hitting in a high-stakes environment.

  
  

• National Exposure: With multiple games against nationally recognized programs, Tennessee will gain broader visibility on digital streaming platforms like Flo Sports while also positioning itself in early season polls and analytics models.

  
  

• Momentum Building: Success in Arlington can carry forward into midweek contests and provide confidence before Tennessee opens Southeastern Conference play on the road in mid-March.

  
  

The Amegy Bank College Baseball Series promises to be a critical chapter of Tennessee’s schedule. It is an early crucible that could shape the Volunteers’ identity and Omaha expectations for 2026. 

TPL will be on site with live coverage to kick it off.

Make sure to join us online and share the conversation with us. 

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