Tennessee Volunteers: Baseball & Softball Weekend Recap
By Zach Ragan
Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Baseball
The Volunteers showed off their offense in a 16-0 series opening win on Friday. The Vol’s kept it going on Saturday, scoring 13 runs, including a nine run third inning, for a 13-6 victory over the Alcorn State Braves.
Freshmen Andrew Lee had the signature game of his short Tennessee career on Saturday. Lee went 4-5 with 5 RBI’s and scored twice. Taylor Smart went 2-5 and launched his first home-run of the year, a solo shot in the seventh inning.
Trevor Sharpie picked up the win, the first career victory for the freshmen from California.
Sunday saw the run support continue for the Vols.
The Vols scored seven runs in the first three innings of the game. The scoring got started when Lee continued his hot hitting with a double down the left field line, driving in one.
Alcorn State answered with four runs in the fourth and the game stayed within reach for the Braves, until a five run eighth inning put it away for the Vols.
Tennessee, who had clinched the series on Saturday, earned the sweep on Sunday with a 12-4 win. For the second day in a row a freshmen earned their first collegiate win, as Aaron Quillen picked up the victory.
With the sweep the Vols climbed back to .500, improving to 7-7.
Next up for the Vols is a two-game series against Western Kentucky that begins in Knoxville on Tuesday.
Softball
The Lady Vols, who won a thrilling 4-3 game over Alabama on Friday, made it two in a row on Saturday. Tennessee got on the board first with a RBI single from Lauren Gibson in the first. Alabama pulled even with a run of their own in the top of the second.
The game remained tied until Rainey Gaffin hit a pinch-hit double in the bottom of the sixth that plated Melissa Gavin and would give the Lady Vols a 2-1 win.
Ivy Renfroe picked up her eighth win of the year, improving to 8-1.
The Lady Vols couldn’t keep up their winning ways on Sunday. The Crimson Tide got out in front early, leading 6-0 by the third inning. The Lady Vols couldn’t get the bats going, scoring only once on two base hits.
Freshmen Erin Gabriel took the loss for the Vols, falling to 3-1. Overall the Vols improved to 21-4 with the series win over Alabama.
The Lady Vols will take on Winthrop at home on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 pm est.