Courtesy / UT Athletics
Mealer’s Walk-Off Single Sends #7 Lady Vols to WCWS Semifinals
OKLAHOMA CITY – In a game that featured plenty of high-stakes situations and tension-filled drama, Laura Mealer played the hero during No. 7 Tennessee’s 5-4 victory over ninth-ranked UCLA, hitting a walk-off single in the ninth inning to send the Lady Vols to their second Women’s College World Series semifinal appearance in the last three seasons.
After a Taylor Pannell double and back-to-back walks for Sophia Nugent and McKenna Gibson, Mealer roped a 2-2 pitch between the shortstop and third baseman for her second hit and third RBI of the game. It marked UT’s third walk-off victory at the WCWS in program history, joining Tonya Callahan’s 2-run shot to lift the Big Orange over No. 1 Michigan (2005) and Tory Lewis’ RBI single against No. 11 Washington (2013).
It was the second bases-loaded hit for Mealer on the day, as she opened the scoring in the first inning with a 2-RBI single. The other two runs for the Big Orange came off the bat of Pannell, who hit her first long ball of the postseason and 16th on the year in the bottom of the fifth inning.
In the circle, Karlyn Pickens picked up her 25th victory of the season after striking out seven batters and stranding 10 on the bases. She worked out of a tight jam in the top of the ninth against the heart of the UCLA lineup, helping Tennessee (47-16) to its first win against the Bruins (55-13) since 2011.
UT is back in action Monday at noon ET, as Tennessee takes on No. 6 Texas on ESPN in the semifinals. The Big Orange needs a victory to keep its postseason alive, and a win would force a doubleheader with the second game starting 30 minutes after the first.
The Lady Vols struck in the opening frame for the third straight game of the week, as Mealer’s first single drove in Pannell and Ella Dodge. The Bruins answered in the top half of the second thanks to a pair of solo home runs, evening things up at 2-2.
That’s where the score would remain until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Pannell’s second hit of the day was a 2-run bomb over the left field wall to make it a 4-2 ballgame. The swing in momentum was started by a Gabby Leach single after eight straight UT batters had been retired.
Down to their last out, UCLA’s Megan Grant hit a game-tying 2-run homer over to center field, tying things at 4-4. However, the play came with some drama, as Grant appeared to miss home plate. After review, it was determined that she did miss the plate but was assisted back to the plate before leaving the area, which is not reviewable, meaning the play was upheld.
Courtesy / UT Athletics
#14 Vols Secure Spot in Regional Final with 10-6 Win Over Cincinnati
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 14 Tennessee will play in a regional final for the sixth straight NCAA tournament after downing Cincinnati, 10-6, in front of a sell-out crowd on Saturday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols (45-16) extended their NCAA regional winning streak to 14 games with Saturday’s victory over the Bearcats (33-25).
UT got another solid performance on the mound from its starter, as Marcus Phillips provided the Big Orange with a quality start to earn the win and improve to 4-4. The junior righthander tied a career high with eight strikeouts and allowed just three runs on four hits over six-plus innings of work.
A four-run sixth inning proved to be the difference in the game as Tennessee extended its lead from two to six before adding two more insurance runs in the top of the ninth. A two-run double by Andrew Fischer was the biggest hit of the inning while Dean Curley and Reese Chapman also drove in runs.
Infield Provides Offensive Spark
The Vols’ infield foursome along with catcher Cannon Peebles produced nearly all of UT’s offense on Saturday night, combining for 11 hits, eight runs and nine RBIs.
Curley was the catalyst in the early going, driving in UT’s first three runs with a two-run single in the top of the first and a solo blast off the batter’s eye in the third. The sophomore second baseman finished with a game-high four RBIs.
Gavin Kilen led all players with four hits and three runs scored from the leadoff spot while Fischer had another productive night, as well, going 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs.
Peebles had a pair of doubles for the second straight game and also scored twice while Manny Marin drove in the Vols’ final two runs of the game with a single in the top of the ninth.
Russell and Arvidson Finish the Job
AJ Russell added another solid outing to his recent string of impressive pitching performances. The junior righthander struck out a season-high six batters and did not allow an earned run in 2.2 innings of relief.
Brandon Arvidson earned his first career save after coming on to record the game’s final out with two Cincinnati runners in scoring position. The talented lefty struck out pinch hitter Kory Klingenbeck to end the hopes of any potential Bearcats’ rally.
Up Next
Tennessee will await the winner of Sunday’s elimination game between Cincinnati and Wake Forest, who will square off at noon (ET).
Game two of the day is slated for a 6 p.m. (ET) first pitch. A win would send the Vols to their fifth consecutive NCAA Super Regional.
Television networks for both games on Sunday have yet to be determined.
Courtesy / UT athletics
Doyle Dominates as #14 Vols Open Regional Play with Convincing Win Over Miami
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 14 Tennessee opened its NCAA regional slate with a convincing 9-2 victory over Miami University on Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Volunteers got a vintage performance on the mound from junior lefty Liam Doyle and had contributions up and down the lineup to win their 13 straight NCAA regional game.
Doyle Dazzles in NCAA Regional Opener
After having to battle through the first three innings, Doyle settled in and found his groove, retiring 10 consecutive batters at one point en route to an 11-strikeout night in which he allowed just one run on four hits and three walks to earn his 10th victory of the year.
The Derry, New Hampshire, native has recorded double-digit strikeouts nine different times this season and is one punchout away from tying Luke Hochevar’s single-season program record of 154.
Balanced Attack by UT
Eight different players finished with either a hit, a run scored or an RBI for the Big Orange in Friday night’s win.
Reese Chapman led all players with three RBIs, including a solo home run to open the scoring in the bottom of the second inning.
Gavin Kilen, Hunter Ensley and Cannon Peebles all had a pair of hits as UT made life extremely difficult on Redhawks’ starting pitcher Cooper Katskee.
The sophomore righthander was handed just his second loss of the year after allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks over 3.1 innings.
Regional Win Streak Continues to Build
With Friday’s victory, Tennessee extended a handful of impressive winning streaks in the regional round of the NCAA tournament.
The Vols have now win 13 straight NCAA regional games overall and 17 in a row at home. UT’s last regional loss at home came back in 2001 against Wake Forest.
Up Next
Tennessee will take on Cincinnati in the winner’s bracket game Saturday night at 6 p.m. (ET). The winner will advance to Sunday’s regional final.
Television info for Saturday’s contest has yet to be announced, so stay tuned to the official Tennessee baseball social media channels for that information.
Courtesy / UT Athletics
#7 Lady Vols Stay Alive at WCWS Behind Record-Breaking Offensive Showing vs. #3 Florida
OKLAHOMA CITY – The seventh-ranked Tennessee offense was scorching hot Friday night at Devon Park, breaking Women’s College World Series program records for runs (11) and hits (12) to defeat No. 3 Florida, 11-3, in an elimination game.
All nine Lady Vol batters in the starting lineup registered a hit in the contest, combined for five extra-base hits and contributed to driving in at least one run in all four innings at the plate. The effort helped the Big Orange break its previous scoring record of 10, which was set in the opening game of the 2023 WCWS against Alabama on June 1.
Earning a day of rest, Tennessee (46-16) advances to play the loser of the Texas Tech-UCLA contest on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ABC. The Red Raiders and Bruins play Saturday night at 7 p.m.
It was the first meeting between the Lady Vols and the Gators (48-17) since the 2023 campaign. Tennessee’s pitching by committee of Karlyn Pickens, Sage Mardjetko and Erin Nuwer held Florida to just three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five. Nuwer got the win after allowing just one base runner in two innings.
With the victory, UT boasts six wins over top-5 opponents this season, which is tied (2012) for the second most in a single campaign in school history behind seven in 2013. It marks the 19th run-rule of the season, the most since securing 22 in 2016.
Getting the starting nod in left field, Alannah Leach enjoyed a 2-for-3 day at the plate, driving in a career-high-tying four runs. Sophia Nugent and McKenna Gibson each recorded a home run in the outing, doing so in back-to-back plate appearances. Nugent and Laura Mealer also enjoyed multi-hit performances.
After surviving a scare in the top of the first when a pair of Gator batters reached base on balls, the Lady Vol offense exploded in the bottom half of the frame and hung a crooked number on the scoreboard. The first eight Tennessee batters reached base behind seven hits and a walk, giving the Big Orange a commanding 7-0 lead.
UT’s seven runs was tied for the seventh-most runs scored in a single inning in WCWS history and tied Michigan (May 21, 1998 vs. Texas) for the second-most runs scored in a first inning.
Gabby Leach roped a pitch down the first baseline for her second triple of the season to kick off the inning. Three straight singles loaded up the bases for Tennessee, and after a walk by Gibson, Alannah Leach cleared the bases with a liner to right center. She ended up scoring on a sac fly by Emma Clarke.
The second inning didn’t feature as many runs, but the fireworks continued for the Lady Vols. Facing a full count, Nugent took a pitch deep over the left-center fence. Three pitches later, Gibson sent one to the bleachers in right center for back-to-back long balls. UT added another run in the bottom of the third after Clarke scored on a fielding error by Florida’s second baseman.
Florida got on the board in the top of the fourth thanks to a two-run shot and a solo homer in back-to-back at bats. In the bottom half of the inning, Alannah Leach added her fourth RBI of the game with a single to left field that scored Laura Mealer and made it an insurmountable 11-3 advantage.
Richard L. Bean Resigns as Head of Detention Center, Knox County Mayor Responds
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Richard L. Bean, the embattled director of Knox County’s juvenile detention center, is stepping down from his role at the facility.
That, according to Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs who released a statement Friday afternoon confirming that Bean was no longer the head of his namesake detention center. In it, Jacobs says Bean did the right thing, given recent accusations that he’d fired two employees for whistleblowing to the state about operations at the center.
“Richard Bean dedicated a large portion of his life serving and assisting the troubled youth in our community. That’s something we should never forget.
In the end, he recognized that the best way to continue helping was to step aside, and that’s what he did.
There is a reason his name is on that building, and when people drive by and see it, I hope they will remember Richard as I do – a man who made some mistakes, like all of us do, but, in the end, chose to do the right thing. – Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs
Jacobs said Thursday that Bean had fired an IT employee and the center’s only nurse, prompting action from the county. Bean later agreed to reinstate those employees, Jacobs said.
Loudon County Tornado Injures Five People, National Weather Service Says
Philadelphia, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: The National Weather Service confirming that a tornado touched down Friday morning in Loudon County.
NWS officials say the storm, which blew through the Philadelphia area near Holt Road at Stockton Valley Road, involved an EF-0 tornado, two miles long and 200 yards wide.
Officials report five people were injured during the storm; there is no word on the extent of their injuries.
Monroe County Emergency Management says five structures have been damaged and no fatalities have been reported.
A tornado warning was issued this morning for Loudon and Blount Counties.
ORIGINAL STORY: A tornado warning for Loudon and Blount County issued around 9 a.m. Friday morning has expired.
The Loudon County Sheriff’s Office is monitoring reports of a possible tornado touchdown in the Philadelphia area near Holt Road at Stockton Valley Road.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, four people were taken to the hospital for evaluation. There’s no word on the extent of their injuries.
The sheriff’s office asking people to avoid the area, as multiple trees and power lines are down.
Monroe County Emergency Management says five structures have been damaged and no fatalities have been reported.
Morristown Family Charged after Shots Fired at Business, Police Say
Morristown, TN (WOKI) Five family members living in Morristown are charged after an incident, investigated by the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office, involving a business damaged by gunfire.
Two juveniles are charged with reckless endangerment, unlawful possession of a firearm and vandalism.
Officials say information from a recently installed flock camera was essential in locating the vehicle involved which lead to those responsible.
“Information we were able to obtain through a recently installed flock camera was essential in locating the vehicle involved,” Det. Lt. Jim Brooks stated. “Once we located the vehicle, we had no problem determining the individuals who were involved.”
When the juveniles were arrested, that’s when three other family members were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and simple possession.
“On behalf of Det. Sgt. Joshua Price and myself, I want to thank the Morristown Police Department, the White Pine Police Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol for their assistance in resolving this case,” Brooks said.
Additional charges may be pending.
KPD
Knoxville Police Asking for Witnesses of a Shooting at Montgomery Village to Come Forward
Knoxville Police are asking for help to find witnesses to a shooting in Montgomery Village.
Detectives are asking everyone who saw shooting that happened around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Police say gunshots were fired into two different occupied apartments. Fortunately, no one was hit by the gunfire and no injuries were reported.
A gray Ram pick-up truck was seen leaving the area following the shooting.
Anyone with information that could potentially identify who was responsible for the shooting is asked to contact detectives at 865-215-8600.
Discover the Smokies with New Summer and Fall Public Programs
GATLINBURG, TN — Join us this summer and fall for a series of exciting, family-friendly programs in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, starting June 7. Visitors are invited to take a hike with a ranger, learn about mountain life, meet some of the creatures that call the Smokies’ home, trek into the dark and much more.
The full schedule of programs, with details about locations, topics and how to arrive prepared can be found on the park’s online event calendar and will be published in the summer edition of the Smokies Guide newspaper.
Additionally, one day each month, American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and students from the University of Tennessee and Maryville College will collaborate with park staff to present programs. Funding for these programs was provided by the National Park Foundation.
ASL-interpreted programs will include:
- Saturday, June 28: Portraits from the Past (9 a.m. at John Oliver parking area in Cades Cove); Drop-In History (10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Cable Mill Historic Area).
- Sunday, July 20: Kuwohi Guided Hike (9 a.m. at Kuwohi parking area); Mingus Mill program (2 p.m. at Mingus Mill).
- Sunday, August 17: Walker Sisters Hike (11 a.m. at Little Greenbrier School); Stream Splashers (2 p.m. at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area).
- Friday, September 12: Bear Aware Drop In (1-3 p.m. at Cades Cove Orientation Shelter); Cove After Dark Walk (8 p.m. at the Cades Cove Orientation Shelter).
- Tuesday, October 7: History of Daisytown (11 a.m. at Jakes Creek parking area); Hiking 101 (1 p.m. at Little River Trailhead).
- Friday, November 7: Down on the Farm drop-in (10 a.m.-noon at the Mountain Farm Museum, Oconaluftee); Wild About the Smokies (3 p.m. at Oconaluftee Visitor Center).
Programs are family-friendly and are open to all park visitors. Visitors are welcome to participate on as many days as they choose and may opt to attend one or both programs on each day. No reservations are required.
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