TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A dominant effort in the circle from junior Ashley Rogers and timely hitting, propelled the 21st-ranked Tennessee softball team past No. 3 Alabama, 4-3, on Friday night at Rhoads Stadium.
The win was the Lady Vols (21-3, 2-2 SEC) third victory over the Tide (22-2, 3-1 SEC) in Tuscaloosa in its last four tries.
Rogers’ dominant effort was highlighted by a streak of 16 consecutive retired batters spanning the first five and a third innings. The streak began after allowing two runs on a pair of hits to open the evening’s affairs.
At the dish, UT was led by graduate student Cailin Hannon who finished the night 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs that gave the Vols their first lead and some extra insurance that would turn out to be the winning run.
Senior Amanda Ayala was consistent all night, going 3-for-4 at the plate, while batting in a run and scoring the go-ahead run in the fourth inning.
Bama struck first on a throwing error on a steal that plated two runs, giving the Tide an early 2-0 lead before the conclusion of the opening inning.
After two and a half scoreless innings, the Lady Vol bats awakened, plating three runs in the top half of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead heading into the nights’ latter stages.
Shipman opened the scoring as she ripped a double to left center, scoring pinch runner Anna Fox.
Two batters later, Ayala brought home Kaitlin Parsons on an RBI single to left to tie things up at two apiece, before Hannon allowed Ayala to score on a single to center to give UT its first lead of the night.
The Orange & White added an insurance run in the sixth, as Hannon placed a single right back to the pitchers’ circle with the bases loaded to increase the Tennessee lead to 4-2.
Alabama’s Bailey Dowling went yard to lead off the seventh, cutting the Tennessee lead in half, but only before Rogers slammed the door to send Tennessee back to the hotel with a win in the weekend opener.
HITTING IN THE CLUTCH
Friday’s tying run and go-ahead runs in the fourth inning, both came with two outs, capping off a huge three-run inning for the Lady Vols that propelled them to the series opening victory.
ROGERS STELLAR…AGAIN
Ashley Rogers threw seven full innings, giving up just one earned run on three hits and three walks, while fanning and sending 16 consecutive batters back to the dugout with nothing to show for their efforts.
UP NEXT
Tennessee returns to action tomorrow afternoon for a 3 p.m. first pitch in game two with Alabama. Saturday’s game can be seen on SEC Network+.
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-UT Athletics
