Kent State Stuns #13 Tennessee 2-1 for Historic Victory

Saturday, February 21

Knoxville, TN

4 PM ET

Kent State University

4-2

University of Tennessee

5-1

Kent State

Tennessee

Kent State Stuns #13 Tennessee 2-1 for Historic Victory

2/21/2026 7:06:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Kent State baseball team pulled off a historic 2-1 victory over #13 Tennessee on Friday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, earning its first win against a ranked opponent since 2022 and its first-ever victory over the Volunteers.

The Flashes (4-2) trailed early after Tennessee's Henry Ford homered down the right field line with no outs in the first inning to give the Volunteers a 1-0 lead.

Kent State starter Easton Tumis settled in after the rough start, allowing just one run on four hits over 4.1 innings while striking out three batters. Tennessee threatened again in the first when a pitch hit Tyler Myatt, and both runners advanced on wild pitches, but Tumis escaped the jam by getting Stone Lawless to strike out swinging and Manny Marin to fly out to center field.

The Flashes broke through in the fifth inning with two runs, both unearned due to Tennessee defensive miscues. Max Humphrey led off with a single to shortstop and stole second base. Sawyer Solitaria followed with a single to third base, advancing Humphrey to third. Brody Williams reached on a fielding error by third baseman Ford that allowed Humphrey to score.

Ripken Reese then reached on a fielder's choice to third base, but a throwing error by second baseman Ariel Antigua allowed Reese to advance to second while Solitaria scored the second run, giving Kent State a 2-1 lead.

Nick Guidas entered in relief of Tumis in the fifth inning and was outstanding, pitching three scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out three. Peyton Williams earned the save by retiring all five batters he faced over the final 1.2 innings.

Solitaria led the Flashes offense, going 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base. Luke Matthews added two hits and a stolen base, while Humphrey went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases.

Tennessee starter Luke Mack took the loss despite striking out 11 batters over 6.2 innings. The Volunteers (5-1) managed just five hits and committed three errors that proved costly.

The victory marks Kent State's first win over a top-25 opponent since defeating #25 UConn 5-4 in 2022 and the program'sfirst-ever win against Tennessee.

The Flashes will look to win the series when they face the Volunteers again Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern.

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