While everyone else is playing checkers, Josh Elander may be playing chess heading into the SEC Tournament for the Tennessee Vols. Tennessee will open things up Tuesday against South Carolina, a team that finished 15th in the SEC and is riding a 12-game losing streak. The Gamecocks already fired their head coach during the season, and right now their year is basically on life support.
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In light of this, Tennessee has made a bold move ahead of the contest on Tuesday in Hoover. Elander told the media today that the Vols will be throwing freshman left-hander Cameron Appenzeller to start Tuesday's game against the Gamecocks.
The 6-foot-5 freshman left-hander will be making his second start of the season. In 48 innings, Appenzeller has posted some solid fundamental numbers. His ERA sits somewhat high at 4.84, but he owns an impressive 1.11 WHIP along with 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings. In six innings against Vandy, Appenzeller had a very good showing, going six innings and allowing only four hits with no earned runs. He also punched out four batters and walked none. As a reliever, he's been up and down, but he has good underlying stuff for a freshman.
Josh Elander told the media this morning that Vols freshman LHP Cameron Appenzeller will start Tuesday's game against No. 15-seed South Carolina in the first round of the SEC Tournament.
— Ben McKee (@benmckee14) May 18, 2026
How Josh Elander is playing chess for the Vols
The fact that the Tennessee Volunteers baseball team is starting Appenzeller tells you a lot. Tennessee clearly believes it can handle a struggling South Carolina team, while also saving Tegan Kuhns for a much tougher matchup against No. 12 Arkansas. The Vols know that if they can beat the Gamecocks, which they shouldn't be struggling with, they need to have their A game against a solid Arkansas team.
Holding Tegan Kuhns back for Arkansas is probably the smartest move, too. He’s thrown a lot lately, so there’s no reason to push him against a weaker South Carolina team if you don’t have to. Then Tennessee can throw Kuhns against the Razorbacks and potentially roll with Evan Blanco against Texas, whom he already beat a few weeks ago. Things are starting to line up nicely for the Vols.
I really like the outlook Tennessee has heading into the SEC Tournament. They open against one of the coldest teams in the conference in South Carolina, a team that looks ready for its season to end. After that, Tennessee would likely face a strong Arkansas squad, but the Vols should have their ace ready to go. Then there’s the potential matchup with Texas, a team Tennessee has already proven it can beat. Winning the entire tournament is a lot to ask, but this team is capable of it if it gets hot. Much crazier things have happened in college baseball, and Tennessee has a real recipe for success here.
Ultimately, winning the SEC Tournament would be nice, but the focus for the Vols is getting hot over a few games and carrying that momentum into the NCAA Tournament, where they will likely be on the road in a hostile environment.
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