KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Third-ranked Tennessee softball is on the road Friday through Sunday as it prepares to take on No. 21 Texas A&M at Davis Diamond.
Tennessee (27-2, 8-1 SEC) won the series against Alabama – taking its third consecutive SEC series to open conference play. Ashley Rogers led the Lady Vols to their pair of wins, tossing 12.2 innings over two games with 11 strikeouts and just four runs allowed on six hits.
In its last time out, Tennessee took down in-state foe ETSU 10-2 for its fifth win over a team from the Volunteer state this season.
BROADCAST INFO
Friday and Sunday’s games will be available to stream on SEC Network+ with Chelsea Reber (play-by-play) and Tori Vidales (analyst) on the call. Saturday’s game will be broadcast live on SEC Network and features Pam Ward (play-by-play) and Jenny Dalton-Hill (analyst) describing the action.
Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Softball, Brian Rice, call the action on the Vol Network (AM 990) or via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App.
NOTABLE
BOO BOMBS
On Tuesday night, McKenna Gibson crushed a pair of home runs and drove in a career-high seven RBIs as the Lady Vols took down ETSU. The sophomore hit a three-run home run in the third inning and followed up with a grand slam in the fourth.
PITCHING PROWESS
The Lady Vol pitching staff is among the best in the nation, recording an SEC-best 17 shutouts to go along with the second-best ERA in the nation at 0.99.
BIG NUMBERS
Tennessee is outscoring its opponents this season 220-25 and is doing most of the damage in the third inning – outscoring other teams 60-3.
NATION LEADER IN DOUBLES
With 14 doubles this season, senior Mackenzie Donihoo is tied for the NCAA lead with Bradley’s Grace French, Wichita State’s Lauren Lucas and George Mason’s Haley Taormina.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M
Head Coach (Record at Texas A&M): Trisha Ford (21-11)
2023 Record: 21-11 (4-5 SEC)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 20-5
Last Meeting: W, 5-1, on 4/18/22 in Knoxville
Key Stat: Texas A&M has gotten the bats going early and often scoring 107-of-175 (61%) runs within the first three innings. The Aggies are 19-1 when scoring first and 17-1 leading after the fourth inning. The Aggies are ranked top 50 nationally in numerous categories, including No. 17 in double plays (14), No. 18 in shutouts (10), No. 18 in doubles (49), No. 26 in on-base percentage (.401), No. 29 in slugging percentage (.504).
UP NEXT
Tennessee plays host to Baylor and Mercer Thursday and Friday, April 6-7 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium for the Tennessee Invitational.
-UT Athletics
