Tennessee baseball’s trip to Lexington was a test of grit, and the Vols barely passed. After dropping the first two games of the series against Kentucky in lopsided fashion—9-2 and 12-2—the team faced a moment of truth. Head coach Josh Elander didn’t mince words with his players: those performances fell short of the program’s high standards. The Vols responded with a nail-biting 10-9 win on Sunday, May 3, avoiding a sweep in a game that mirrored their season’s ups and downs. Tennessee (31-17, 11-13 SEC) saw a six-run lead shrink to just one in the final three innings, making the victory a wild ride to the finish. “You don’t really draw it up where you give up eight runs in the last three innings and still find a way to get out,” Elander said. “But a Sunday win—we’ll take it any way we can get it.”

For fans and analysts alike, the series highlighted three key takeaways about Tennessee’s pitching staff. First, the rotation is showing promise. Despite the team’s struggles, starters Tegan Kuhns and Evan Blanco have been reliable arms, giving the Vols a fighting chance. If Landon Mack can solidify his role as the third starter, Tennessee could become a dangerous opponent in a regional matchup. But the bullpen remains a glaring question mark. In the series finale, relievers surrendered eight runs, with freshman lefty Cam Appenzeller allowing four in just 0.2 innings. It’s a troubling trend for Appenzeller, who looked like one of the nation’s top freshman pitchers early in the season but has since allowed 14 runs in his last 6.1 innings against SEC competition. The previous day was no better, as four Tennessee relievers gave up six runs in just over two innings, allowing Kentucky to end the game early via run rule. “The ‘pen was not good, period,” Elander said after that loss. “We didn’t throw strikes, hit batters, walked guys, and then left barrels over the plate.”

Amid the bullpen woes, Mack provided a bright spot on Sunday, delivering a much-needed boost. As Tennessee looks ahead, the question isn’t whether they have talent—it’s whether they can find consistency on the mound. For now, the Vols are taking it one game at a time, hoping their pitching staff can steady itself before the postseason pressure ramps up.