KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The 14th-ranked Tennessee softball team wraps up a seven-game homestand this weekend, welcoming East Carolina and UNC Greensboro for a two-day tournament dubbed the Lady Vol Challenge. The action runs Saturday to Sunday with five games taking place at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
The Lady Vols open the event with a doubleheader on Saturday, taking on ECU at approximately 1:30 p.m. before playing host to UNCG at 4:00. Tennessee rounds out the home tournament with a second matchup against the Pirates on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for approximately 1 p.m.
Limited tickets are available at AllVols.com and can also be purchased at the Sherri Parker Lee ticket office when gates open to the public one hour prior to first pitch of the first game on both days. Parking is free for all games in lots S14 and C25 adjacent to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium and Regal Soccer Stadium, and fans should note that Tennessee Athletics’ clear bag policy will be in effect.
Fans are encouraged to visit the Tennessee softball gameday information page before making their way to Sherri Parker Lee to familiarize themselves with gameday policies and procedures.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE: The Lady Vols, Pirates and Spartans will take part in a two-day, five-game event in Knoxville with three games on Saturday and two on Sunday.
Saturday, April 23
- 11 a.m. – UNCG vs. ECU
- 1:30 p.m. – Tennessee vs. ECU
- 4 p.m. – Tennessee vs. UNCG
Sunday, April 24
- 10:30 a.m. – ECU vs. UNCG
- 1 p.m. – Tennessee vs. ECU
BROADCAST INFO: All three of Tennessee’s games will be broadcasted online via SEC Network+, available at ESPN.com/watch and the ESPN app, with Michael Wottreng (play-by-play) and Jill Jelnick (analyst) on the call. Additionally, an audio broadcast for UT’s matchups will air on UTSports.com and be available for local listening on FM 99.1/AM 990 in Knoxville.
LAST TIME OUT: The Lady Vols took on No. 3 Virginia Tech in the midweek, falling 5-2 to the Hokies on Wednesday at Sherri Parker Lee. Erin Edmoundson and Ashley Rogers combined for a season-high tying 11 strikeouts on the night, while Kiki Milloy had a two-hit outing that included and RBI double and a stolen base.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Super senior shortstop Ivy Davis took home SEC Co-Player of the Week honors on Tuesday after hitting .714 in UT’s four wins last week. Davis went 5-for-7 at the plate between the four contests, slugging 1.714 with one double, two homers and seven RBIs.
BENDER ENDOWED: Tennessee redshirt senior Samantha Bender was awarded the NCAA Women’s Enhancement Graduate Scholarship, the organization revealed earlier this week. A kinesiology major set to graduate in May, Bender is one of 13 female college graduates across all NCAA institutions to receive the scholarship.
NOTING THE FIELD: ECU and UNCG embark on Knoxville at polarizing positions in their league standings. The Pirates are tied for sixth in the seven-member American Athletic Conference, while the Spartans sit atop the Southern Conference ledger with an unblemished 12-0 record in league play.
East Carolina (19-25, 2-10 AAC)
- Head Coach: Shane Winkler (1st Season)
- Series Record: Tennessee leads 2-1
- Last Meeting: An 8-1 victory for the Lady Vols at the Triangle Classic in Raleigh, N.C.
- Key Stat: ECU leads the AAC and ranks tied with the Lady Vols for 33rd nationally with 60 doubles on the season
UNC Greensboro (31-12, 12-0 SoCon)
- Head Coach: Janelle Breneman (10th Season)
- Series Record: Tennessee lead 5-0
- Last Meeting: A 4-0 triumph for the Lady Vols on opening day of the 2022 season in Miami. Ashley Rogers dealt a complete-game, one-hit shutout for the Lady Vols with nine strikeouts in the winning effort.
- Key Player/Stat: The Spartans rank second nationally with 84 home runs this season, led by graduate OF Jordan Gontram who tops the SoCon with 14 round trippers
UP NEXT: UT begins a four-game road swing next week with a trip to Liberty on Wednesday. UT’s final midweek matchup of the season will be broadcasted on ESPN+, and first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
-UT Athletics
