Game Recap: Softball | March 02, 2024
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Playing in the friendly confines of Sherri Parker Lee Stadium for the first time in 2024, the ninth-ranked Lady Vols run-ruled Stetson and Brown – 8-0 and 9-1, respectively – on Saturday.
Graduate Kiki Milloy heated up back on Rocky Top, going 3-for-4 (.750) on the night with a triple, home run, three runs scored, three RBIs and three stolen bases over two games.
Junior McKenna Gibson also stood out as she went 3-for-6 (.500) with a run scored, one double, one home run and three RBIs.
In the circle, sophomore Karlyn Pickens pitched a one-hit complete-game shutout against Stetson. The right-hander struck out three over five innings of work – earning her fifth win and third shutout of the year.
Versus Brown, sophomore Charli Orsini got the start and tossed 2.2 innings – allowing one run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts. Graduate Payton Gottshall came on out of the bullpen to close out the final 2.1 frames. She fanned three and held the Bears hitless as she picked up her fourth victory in 2024.
GAME ONE – #9 Tennessee 8, Stetson 0
It took a couple of innings for the bats to heat up against Stetson, but the Lady Vols broke through with a pair of runs in the third. Destiny Rodriguez and Taylor Pannell knocked in both runs with back-to-back RBI singles.
Milloy started the run-rule win in the home half of the fifth as she led off the inning with a home run – the 60th blast of her career.
A Laura Mealer two-RBI triple scored Sophia Nugent and Rylie West before Alannah Leach drew a four-pitch walk to set up senior Zaida Puni for a potential run-rule walk-off.
Puni did not miss as she launched a three-run home run into the stands in left field to end the game and open the night with a win.
GAME TWO – #9 Tennessee 9, Brown 1
Gibson starred in the nightcap as she went 2-for-3 with a run scored, a double, a home run and three RBIs. She got UT going immediately in the first with a two-run homer – her second long ball of the season.
Brown responded with a run-scoring double in the top of the third – cutting UT’s lead to 2-1.
In the bottom half of the inning, Gibson again sparked the offense with an RBI double of her own. Puni followed with an RBI single and passed the bat to Rodriguez who capped the frame with a two-run home run off the scoreboard in left.
Milloy roped a two-RBI single in the fourth to put the Big Orange up 8-1 and in the fifth, Pannell walked it off with an RBI single to center.
UP NEXT
Tennessee is back in action with two games on Sunday, starting at 11:30 a.m. ET against Stetson. The Lady Vols will end day two of the Tennessee Classic with Longwood and a 4:30 p.m. scheduled first pitch.
