Tennessee softball won its first game in the 2017 women’s NCAA Tournament Friday. The Volunteers beat the Longwood Lancers 5-0.
They had a disappointing SEC Tournament, but the Tennessee softball team enjoyed a strong showing in its first game of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.
Ralph and Karen Weekly’s team entered the tournament a No. 8 seed and hosting its regional, and they shut out the Longwood Lancers 5-0 Friday night.
Matty Moss pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only one hit and striking out 10 batters in the process. She was one walk and one hit away from a perfect game.
Jenna Holcomb and Meghan Gregg were the stars on offense, as both finished the game two-for-three with one run and two RBIs each, which included a home run from Gregg in the third inning.
Holcomb kicked off the scoring in the first inning with a single that sent Aubrey Leach home. Gregg had a single in the next at-bat to send Holcomb home.
In the third, Holcomb added another single to drive in CJ McClain, and then Gregg’s home run made it 4-0.
Brooke Vines also went two-for-three and homered in the sixth inning, which is what gave the Vols the 5-0 lead they had.
With the win, Tennessee improves to 45-10 on the year. They will play South Carolina Upstate next, who defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 7-3 earlier in the day. That game will be at noon on Saturday.
The next two games of this double-elimination round will then be on Sunday at noon and, if necessary, 2:30 p.m.