KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Fresh off a two-game sweep of then No. 9 Alabama, No. 9 Tennessee looks to keep its 18-game win streak going this weekend against No. 16 LSU at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, La.
Media & Broadcast Info
The first two games of the series will be streamed online on the SEC Network +/WatchESPN with Lyn Rollins (PxP) and Yvette Girouard (Analyst) on the call. Sunday’s series finale will air live on the SEC Network as Courtney Lyle (PxP) and Leigh Ross Dakich (Analyst) call the action.
Radio coverage for the entire series will be available on Sports Radio WNML (FM 99.1/AM 990). Live stats will be available on the softball schedule page at UTSports.com HERE.
View the full series schedule below:
Friday
Game 1 | 7 p.m. ET | SEC Network +/WatchESPN | WNML (FM 99.1 & AM 990)/UTSports.com
Saturday
Game 2 | 4 p.m. ET | SEC Network +/WatchESPN | WNML (FM 99.1 & AM 990)/UTSports.com
Sunday
Game 3 | 2 p.m. ET | SEC Network/WatchESPN | WNML (AM 990)/UTSports.com
Need to Know
The Volunteers are riding an 18-game win streak entering Friday’s series opener against the Tigers, which is the longest current winning streak in the country. The streak is also the longest by UT since winning 19 in a row back in 2013. The Big Orange are coming off a pair of walk-off wins over then No. 9 Alabama last weekend before having the third game cancelled due to weather.
Beating the Best
The Vols have had great success against ranked opponents this season, posting an 11-3 record against such teams. Tennessee has won 10 straight games against ranked foes, which is the longest winning streak by any SEC team this season. No. 16 LSU will be the eighth ranked opponent UT has faced this season. The Big Orange have 202 wins all time against ranked teams and 95 victories against teams ranked in the top-10.
The Dynamic Duo
Tennessee’s one-two punch of Meghan Gregg and Brooke Vines have been one of the most productive pairs in college softball this season. The duo ranks first and second in the SEC in RBIs with 62 and 48, respectively. Gregg’s 62 runs driven in lead the entire country as well. Both players have already set, or are on pace to set career highs in numerous offensive categories. Gregg ranks in the top-25 nationally in RBIs, batting average, doubles, slugging, on-base percentage and total bases while Vines is also among the top-25 in the country in hits and RBIs. Vines has also reached base in 18 straight games and has had at least one RBI in 15 of the past 18 games.
How Sweep It Is
The Vols have swept their last four weekend series after taking two games from Alabama in a weather-shorted series last weekend. The last time UT had four consecutive series sweeps was back in 2013.
Power Arms
The Tennessee pitching staff has been dominant this season, ranking 13th nationally with a 1.59 team ERA. The duo of Matty Moss and Caylan Arnold have combined for 37 wins and 248 strikeouts this season. UT, Florida and Alabama are the only teams in the conference that have two pitchers with 100 or more strikeouts each. Moss ranks fifth in the league with 133 strikeouts and Arnold’s 115 punchouts are the most by a Tennessee freshman since Ellen Renfroe had 259 in 2011.
Scouting Report
LSU Tigers (33-12, 8-7 SEC)
LSU coming off a 5-2 midweek win over Northwestern State to snap a four-game losing streak. The Tigers were swept by Ole Miss last weekend after losing two of three games at Alabama two weeks ago. They are led by a strong pitching staff that features three pitchers with none or more wins. Junior right hander Carley Hoover ranks third in the SEC with a 0.95 ERA while fellow junior Allie Walljasper leads the team with 11 wins and four shutouts.
The potent pairing of Bailey Landry and Savannah Jaquish led the Tigers’ attack. Landry leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with a .483 batting average while Jaquish leads the team and ranks fifth in the SEC with 43 RBIs.
UT’s All-Time Record vs. LSU: 28-25-1
LSU has won six of the past nine meetings in the series after losing seven straight from 2010-12. The Tigers defeated the Vols in extra innings of last year’s SEC Tournament semifinals before falling to Auburn in the championship game.
What’s Next?
Tennessee returns home for another showdown between SEC heavyweights as No. 1 Florida visits Sherri Parker Lee Stadium for a three-game series April 28-30.
-UT Athletics
