Tennessee Volunteers Weekend Update: Baseball & Softball
By Zach Ragan
Tennessee Volunteers Weekend Update Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Baseball
Senior Zack Godley picked up his first win of the year, and the Tennessee offense came to life on Friday, scoring 16 runs, in a shutout victory over Alcorn State.
Godley pitched seven shutout innings, striking out eight.
The Vols collected 17 hits in the game, a season high. 12 different Volunteers scored in the win.
Tennessee has struggled to find offensive consistency thus far in the 2013 season. Saturday’s offensive explosion may be just what the Vols needed. It’s important to remember that coach Dave Serrano is fielding a very young team, a team that will have to find it’s identity. Friday’s game may have went a long way towards doing that.
The Vols have two remaining games with the Alcorn State Braves. LHP Drake Owenby will take the mound on Saturday at noon, and RHP Aaron Quillen will get the nod in the series finale on Sunday at noon.
Softball
The drama was in full effect on Friday at Lee Stadium in Knoxville.
The Lady Vols took down the top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in a thrilling 4-3 win.
After giving up the lead in the top of the 7th, Madison Shipman provided the game winning RBI single.
The Lady Vols took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th when Cheyanne Tarango hit a three-run home run. The Crimson Tide fought their way back into the game, with a run in the 6th, then rallying for two runs in the top of the 7th to tie the game.
Tennessee got the lead-off batter on base in the bottom of the 7th when Alabama walked Whitney Hammond. With one out in the 7th, and the bases loaded, Madison Shipman took Jackie Traina’s pitch down the left field line to score Hammond with the game-winning run.
Ivy Renfroe picked up her 7th win of the year, improving to 7-1.
The Lady Vols have two more games scheduled against the Crimson Tide. Tennessee will take the field at 2:30 pm est on Saturday, and 1:30 pm est on Sunday in the series finale.