The Lipscomb Bisons have been going up against the Tennessee Volunteers on the baseball diamond since 2004. And ever since, the story has been pretty one-sided. Lipscomb hasn’t had the best time against Tennessee and currently has 11 losses and just 3 wins.
However, this changed in 2024. In the last matchup against the Vols, the Bisons went on to win 9-6 in Knoxville. That game broke a six-game losing streak that started in 2009. And now? These two in-state rivals are squaring off again.
Lipscomb Heads to Knoxville For In-State Battle
On Tuesday, April 22, Lipscomb will face Tennessee at 6 p.m. ET at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville.
Tennessee comes into this matchup with a 33-7 record. Despite the record, there is no doubt things have been wobbling for the team. After holding down the No. 1 spot in the nation for six straight weeks, the Vols have slipped to No. 6 in the USA TODAY coaches poll and No. 7 with Perfect Game. So what happened?
Well, the Vols dropped back-to-back games to Kentucky. This includes an 8-2 loss. And before that, they had a series of losses to Texas A&M. The cracks in the Vols’ team are showing, and it might be the perfect time for the Bisons to win again.
And to make it even better, Lipscomb has quietly found its own rhythm. They are sitting at 18-20 overall but a more respectable 11-7 in the ASUN.
They are a team that can bite. In the last matchup that the Bisons had against the Big Orange, Lipscomb won 9-6. The Bisons are coached by Jeff Forehand, who’s in his 19th season with the team and knows how to prepare his boys for a showdown like this.
With 3B David Coppedge boasting preseason All-Conference honors, Lipscomb isn’t coming to Knoxville just to admire the renovations. That being said, Tennessee’s midweek game record under head coach Tony Vitello is pretty great. They have a 73-11 record since 2018, including a 9-1 tally this season.
So while the Vols might be licking their wounds from Kentucky, they’re still lethal. And let’s not ignore the breakout players. Cannon Peebles is peaking at the right time. He ended up batting .320 over the last 10 games. Meanwhile, there’s also Andrew Fischer.
The man’s been on base in every game this season, that’s 40 in a row. This is going to be a matchup to remember. Tennessee needs redemption. Lipscomb wants to prove that their April 30 win wasn’t just a one-off. And no doubt, the stakes are high.
RELATED: Liam Doyle Dominates Kentucky as Tennessee Competes No. 1 Ranking
For the Vols, it is a loss here would sting worse than a weekend in Baton Rouge, where they will be going next. And for Lipscomb, another win in Knoxville would be the stuff of program lore.
So buckle up, Vols and Bisons fans. Because this in-state rivalry just got a whole lot spicier.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
