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#6 Tennessee Falls to #3 Georgia in Second Game of Weekend Series, 3-2

Posted on April 7, 2024

Game Recap: Softball | April 06, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After winning game one of the series Friday night, the sixth-ranked Lady Vols dropped game two to third-ranked Georgia, 3-2, on Saturday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium – setting up a rubber match on Sunday.

The defeat snapped Tennessee’s (29-6, 9-2 SEC) 18-game home winning streak.

Graduate Payton Gottshall was solid in the circle for the Lady Vols, coming on in relief of starter Charli Orsini in the second inning. The right-hander tossed six frames, allowing only one run on one hit.

Gottshall notched seven strikeouts with no walks but ultimately suffered the loss – her third of the season.

Orsini got the start and allowed two runs on three hits in an inning of work before Gottshall relieved her after facing three batters in the second.

Georgia (31-7, 7-4 SEC) scored first thanks to a triple to right field by Emily Digby in the second, opening up a quick two-run lead.

Tennessee battled back in the third, tying the game on a single and a sacrifice fly. With two runners on, junior McKenna Gibson laced a single through the infield to plate Laura Mealer and advance Amanda Ahlin to third.

Sophomore Destiny Rodriguez tied the ballgame with an RBI sac fly to right that got deep enough to score Ahlin.

Gottshall held the Bulldogs off the board for two innings before Sarah Gordon hit a fifth-inning solo home run to retake the lead for Georgia.

UGA started Madison Kerpics in the circle and let her toss 2.1 innings before turning things over to Shelby Walters out of the bullpen. Kerpics allowed two runs on four hits with three walks and a strikeout.

Walters came on in the third and closed out the contest, throwing the final 4.2 frames. She surrendered just one hit with five strikeouts as she picked up her seventh win of the season.

Courtesy / UT Athletics

HOT START NOT ENOUGH AS #4 VOLS DROP SERIES OPENER AT AUBURN

Posted on April 6, 2024

Box Score (PDF)

Game Recap: Baseball | April 05, 2024

AUBURN, Ala. — Despite a hot-start offensively and an inspiring showing from the bullpen, No. 4/4 Tennessee was unable to keep Auburn’s bats in check in the early innings and dropped Friday night’s series opener, 9-5, at Plainsman Park.

A pair of two-run homers from Kavares Tears and Christian Moore provided four of UT’s five runs over the first two innings, but missed opportunities came back to plague the Vols as they left the bases loaded in the second inning and were unable to capitalize in the third after getting two runners aboard with just one out.

The Tigers (18-11, 2-8 SEC) came out swinging, as well, quickly erasing a 3-0 deficit with five runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning and three more in the second to take an 8-5 lead they would not relinquish.

After the explosive start, the Big Orange struggled to find any kind of rhythm at the plate for the remainder of the night against Auburn’s bullpen, which did not allow a run and gave up just four hits over the final seven innings.

Carson Myers got the win after tossing 3.2 scoreless innings in relief of starter Dylan Watts before John Armstong finished the game with four shutout frames that included six strikeouts to pick up his second save of the season.

Tennessee’s bullpen was nearly as impressive, allowing only one run on four hits while totaling 11 strikeouts over 6.2 innings.

Aaron Combs posted his most impressive outing of the season, setting career highs with four innings pitched and six strikeouts to keep the Vols in the game. Veteran lefties Kirby Connell and Chris Stamos combined for five strikeouts and didn’t allow a run over the final 2.2 innings.

AJ Causey had a rough outing for the second straight weekend to fall to 5-2 on the year.

Blake Burke had the lone hit against Armstrong with a single in the ninth inning and finished with a team-high three hits to extend his hit streak to 20 consecutive games while also scoring and driving in a run with an RBI double in the first inning.

STAT OF THE GAME: After the two teams combined to score 13 runs in the first two innings, both bullpens were lights out after that. In 14.1 combined innings, relief pitchers for both sides combined to allow just eight hits and one run while striking out 21 batters.

UP NEXT: Like last weekend, Tennessee (24-6, 5-5 SEC) will look to rebound from a Friday-night loss and even the series on Saturday. First pitch for game two between the Vols and Tigers is slated for 4:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.

Courtesy / UT Athletics

BOO BOMB POWERS #6 TENNESSEE PAST #3 GEORGIA, 5-1

Posted on April 6, 2024

Game Recap: Softball | April 05, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The sixth-ranked Lady Vols regained their momentum Friday night with a 5-1 series-opening victory over third-ranked Georgia at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

Tennessee (29-5, 9-1 SEC) also extended its home winning streak to 18 with the win.

The Lady Vols took an early lead when Mckenna Gibson hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. The blast was the first of three hits for Gibson who finished with two RBIs and a run scored.

Georgia (30-7, 6-4 SEC) threatened in the top of the second inning, but Destiny Rodriguez and Sophia Nugent made a crucial defensive play to prevent a run by the Bulldogs – cutting down a UGA runner breaking for home.

The Lady Vols then added another run in the bottom of the third on a single by Nugent, bringing the score to 3-0.

Zaida Puni added a little insurance to the lead in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run double.

Georgia avoided a shutout with a fifth-inning solo home run off the bat of Emilly Digby.

Karlyn Pickens got the start for Tennessee in the circle, tossing her 11th complete game of the year en route to her 15th win. The flamethrower scattered six hits over seven innings of work with six strikeouts and two walks.

The Weaverville, North Carolina, native allowed just one run on the night.

Lilli Backes started for the Bulldogs, throwing 3.1 innings before giving way to Shelby Walters who pitched the final 2.2 frames.

Backes struck out four on the night but also walked four and allowed three runs – two earned – on three hits. Walters gave up two runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

STAT OF THE DAY
Mckenna Gibson has been rock solid for Tennessee all season long but has upped her level in SEC play. The junior is hitting an even .400 through 10 league games – best on the team – while also leading the Lady Vols with three home runs and 11 RBIs.

She is slugging .743 with an OPS of 1.190.

UP NEXT
Tennessee and Georgia play game two of the series on Saturday with a first pitch set for noon ET. The matchup will air on SEC Network with Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Amanda Scarborough (analyst) calling the action.

Fans can also listen to Voice of the Lady Vols Brian Rice all weekend long on AM990.

Fentress County Child Abuse Case Moves to Grand Jury

Posted on April 5, 2024

Fentress County, TN (WOKI) The case of a Fentress County mother and father accused of abusing their adopted children was moved to the grand jury Thursday, April 4.

Jessica and Jason Klimp are suspected of abusing two of their four adopted children. One of those children, who is 12 years old, reportedly appeared so malnourished in February that doctors initially thought she was six years old.

According to court records, the couple is also accused of making the two children sleep in totes in their home’s basement as punishment for wetting the bed.

The Klimps are charged with aggravated child abuse, neglect or endangerment.

The grand jury is slated to meet next on April 18.

TBI: 13 Charged, 5 Pounds of Meth Seized in Blount County

Posted on April 5, 2024

Maryville, TN (WOKI) Thirteen people from Blount County are indicted after an undercover investigation into methamphetamine distribution.

According to a release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the investigation was part of the 313 Initiative and focused on those trafficking illicit drugs into Blount and Knox Counties from Detroit, Michigan.

TBI says numerous search warrants were executed, resulting in the seizure of approximately five pounds of methamphetamine, more than a pound of fentanyl, cocaine and seven firearms.

Currently, eight of the 13 individuals have been arrested; all are charged with conspiracy to distribute 300 grams or more of methamphetamine.

TBI officials named the following as currently under arrest following their investigation:

Gregory Salvatore Celentano, 41, Maryville
Joseph Shane Todd, 38, Walland
Vida Elizabeth Clack, 38, Walland
Mary Faye Graham, 47, Knoxville
Matthew Clay Humphrey, 62, Maryville
Noah Olen McDowell, 42, Townsend
Seth Austin Stokes, 28, Maryville
Rashawn Maurice Jones, 30, Detroit, MI

According to the TBI, the 313 Initiative is a concerted and organized effort by numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to identify, target, and dismantle individuals and groups from the Detroit area who are bringing deadly drug combinations into Knox County and surrounding areas.

Photo courtesy of WVLT

An Investigation is Underway Following a Knox County School Bus Crash

Posted on April 5, 2024

An investigation is underway following a Knox County School bus crash.

Knoxville Police responded to a multi-vehicle crash on Tazewell Pike Thursday afternoon.

Representatives from Knox County Schools say there were 20 students on the bus, and they were taken by another bus through the rest of their route.

No injuries were reported.

A Fatal Train Crash is Under Investigation in Sweetwater

Posted on April 5, 2024

A fatal train crash in Sweetwater.

Police responding to the Duck Park area yesterday (Thursday) afternoon and say a woman, identified as Sharlotte Castillo-Wong, was driving across the tracks when the crossing’s arms came down, keeping her in the path of a Norfolk Southern train. She was struck by the train as she attempted to get out of her vehicle and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say several roads and all tracks within the city’s limits will be shut down for an extended time.

Knoxville Police are Investigating a Murder in South Knoxville

Posted on April 5, 2024

A murder investigation is underway after Knoxville Police Department Homicide Unit detectives responded to a home in south Knoxville early Friday morning.

At around 1:15 a.m. on Friday, April 5, 2024, KPD officers were dispatched to a home in the 3200 block of Gilbert Lane.

Officers arrived on scene and found a 22-year-old woman dead inside the home. The cause of death is unknown at this time and pending the findings of the Regional Forensic Center autopsy. Officers also located a man and woman, both age 23, inside the home who had been shot. Neither victim’s injuries are expected to be life-threatening.

Sometime in the course of the investigation, another man, age 39, arrived at an area hospital to be treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. That individual, who is a person of interest in the Gilbert Lane investigation, was treated and released. He is currently being interviewed by Homicide Unit detectives.

It is believed the entire incident occurred inside of the Gilbert Lane home, where officers found multiple spent shell casings.

The investigation remains ongoing and in the early stages. The information provided is preliminary and subject to change as the investigation progresses. Updates will be provided when available.

A TBI Silver Alert has been Issued for a Missing Woman from Hamilton County

Posted on April 5, 2024

A TBI SilverAlert has been issued for 80 year-old Donna Tripp, missing out of Hamilton County.

Donna was last seen April 4 in Chattanooga, wearing a pink plaid shirt, blue jeans.
Donna is 5’4”, weighs 155, with grey hair, brown eyes. She has a medical condition that may impair her ability to return safely without assistance.

She may be traveling in a 2017 blue Chevrolet Cruz, TX tag RHC 2388.

If you see Donna, please call the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office at 423-209-7000, or 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Courtesy / UT Athletics

VOLS GO UNDER THE LIGHTS FOR SECOND SPRING SCRIMMAGE

Posted on April 5, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee football went under the lights of Neyland Stadium for its second spring scrimmage as the Volunteers worked all three phases in a two-hour workout Thursday night.

Unseasonably cool conditions, simulated crowd noise and the bright lights of Neyland at night greeted the team, which was a first for many of the new faces who joined the roster in January.

“Atypical spring night for here in Knoxville, but it’s an opportunity to get out and play in an environment that at some point next year we’re going to be in,” head coach Josh Heupel said. “The guys had a lot of energy tonight. They enjoyed being under the lights in a different type of day for a scrimmage. For us, it’s an opportunity that will parlay itself into a football game that we’re going to play next fall.”

The scrimmage saw the defense set the tone early with both first-team units going against each other followed by the second-team units squaring off.

“Defensively, I thought they started extremely fast and violent and destructive, got off the field on third downs and did a great job offensively and settled in on the second half of the scrimmage,” Heupel added.

Heupel was pleased with the Vols’ new-look, athletic secondary, which has made plays all spring led by safeties Andre Turrentine, Jourdan Thomas and Will Brooks and cornerbacks Jermod McCoy, Rickey Gibson III and Jalen McMurray.

“Will Brooks had a really good night tonight,” Heupel said. “(Andre Turrentine) has been really consistent throughout the course of spring ball. Jermod McCoy continues to play at a really high level. Those are a few of the guys that have been consistent, but also showed up tonight for us.”

On the ground, Knoxville native DeSean Bishop, Khalifa Keith and Hunter Barnes received a bulk of the carries with starter Dylan Sampson poised for a strong fall season.

“The running backs tonight, I thought DeSean Bishop ran extremely well tonight,” Heupel said. “Without watching the film, I’d say probably his best football that he’s played this spring. He’s a guy coming back off of an injury that is getting more comfortable as he’s gone through this spring.

Tennessee returns to the practice field Saturday to close out its third week of spring ball.

The Orange & White Game is set for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff in a limited capacity Neyland Stadium on April 13. Pregame and postgame festivities outside the stadium, highlighted by the Vol Village Music Festival and a watch party in Lot 9 are scheduled.