DURHAM, N.C. – No. 7 Tennessee rallied in the fifth inning, but came up short, falling to No. 17 Duke 6-3 at Smith Family Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Lady Vols (37-7) started senior Karlyn Pickens in the circle, but fell behind early in the first inning as the Blue Devils jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
Duke’s (32-12) Jessica Oakland hit a three-run home run off the scoreboard in left-center field. After the blast, UT turned to junior Sage Mardjetko out of the bullpen.
Mardjetko limited the damage and got the Lady Vols out of the inning.
The Blue Devils extended the lead in the third with a two-run home run from Tyrina Jones.
In the fifth, the Lady Vols mounted a rally as Alannah Leach hit a solo home run over the wall in right, marking her 10th of the season. Her twin sister, Gabby Leach, followed a few batters later with a two-run blast to draw UT within two runs at 5-3.
After a walk from Taelyn Holley, Makenzie Butt pinch-hit and lifted a ball deep into right field that was caught up against the wall, falling short of a go-ahead home run.
Duke added an insurance run in the sixth to take a three-run lead at 6-3.
Tennessee threatened in the seventh as it loaded the bases, but was unable to take advantage.
Mardjetko finished the night tossing five innings. She allowed three runs on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
Pickens did reenter the game late and tossed one total inning on Wednesday night. She gave up three runs on three hits with one strikeout. She suffered the loss and is 11-5 on the year.
For Duke, Cassidy Curd got the start and threw 5.1 frames. She surrendered three runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts. She got the win and is now 15-2.
KK Mathis threw 1.1 innings in relief and held UT to one hit with a walk and a strikeout. Ava Bradshaw closed out the night as she recorded the game’s final out to earn the save.
DUE UP
Tennessee will have the weekend off before facing Radford on Tuesday, April 21, at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
