WATCH: Karen Weekly Postgame | WATCH: Edmoundson, Puni Postgame | Box Score | Series Stats | Updated Season Stats | Updated SEC-Only Stats
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Dominant pitching and clean defense led 14th-ranked Tennessee softball to a 5-1 victory Monday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, completing the series sweep over Texas A&M.
Graduate left-hander Erin Edmoundson was terrific in the circle for Tennessee (30-12, 11-6 SEC), tossing her ninth complete game of the season and punching out eight. The Deer Park, Texas, native allowed only one run, coming on a solo homer in the third, and recorded her 17th victory of the season.
Sophomore infielder Zaida Puni shined at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run for her 10th of the season. She also scored two runs, tying a season-high.
The Lady Vols got it started early as Puni smashed a 2-0 middle-up fastball into the bleachers in right center. The runs came at a premium for the Big Orange as the first two hitters of the inning were retired, before Amanda Ayala’s two-out walk set up the two-run shot.
Texas A&M (24-17, 3-12 SEC) struck back in the top of the third when catcher Haley Lee popped one over the fence in right. The solo home run brought the Aggies back within a run as the Lady Vols led 2-1 after three innings.
Edmoundson, who worked a mostly clean game, ran into a bit of trouble in the top of the fifth. A double from Koko Wooley, followed by an intentional walk, put the tying and go-ahead run on base. The UT left-hander calmly got a groundout to end the threat and keep the lead with the Big Orange, 2-1, after four and a half.
Tennessee plated three unearned runs in the home half of the fifth to build a four-run cushion over the Aggies. Lair Beautae and Puni connected on two base knocks before two wild pitches from the circle scored Beautae. With Kelcy Leach at the plate and runners on second and third, a grounder went right through the legs of TAMU’s second baseman which chased home Puni and Anna Fox, who came in to pinch run for McKenna Gibson.
Edmoundson shut down the Aggies over the final two frames, striking out the side in the sixth and posting bookend Ks in the seventh to secure Tennessee’s 30th win of the season.
MONDAY NIGHT CLEANING: Tennessee earned its first three-game series sweep over a single opponent Monday night. The Lady Vols posted undefeated weekends at the Felsberg Invitational (Feb. 11-12), the Tennessee Invitational (March 4-6) and the two-game shortened series at Missouri (March 13).
30 DOWN, MORE TO COME: The Lady Vols won their 30th game of the season Monday. Besides the shortened 2020 season, UT has never finished with less than 30 victories since the start in Karen Weekly‘s 21 seasons as head coach.
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols continue their homestand as they welcome third-ranked Virginia Tech to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Limited tickets for the ranked showdown are still available at AllVols.com.
-UT Athletics
