Vols Top Belmont (UT Athletics)
Home runs from Zaida Puni, Kiki Milloy, Katie Taylor and Jamison Brockenbrough helped propel No. 3 Tennessee to a 9-1 run-rule victory over Belmont on Tuesday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Tennessee (35-8) opened the scoring with a run in the first as junior McKenna Gibson laced an RBI single through the left side of the diamond to plate Milloy.
Puni's two-run home run in the second extended Tennessee's lead to three before another RBI single from Laura Mealer in the third put the Lady Vols up 4-0.
With two runners on in the third, Milloy blasted her 10th home run of the season off the scoreboard as UT inched closer to the run rule.
Milloy finished her night 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Puni went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Gibson also was 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI.
Belmont (27-16) scratched a run back in the fifth off a Tennessee error.
Leading by six with two outs in the sixth, Katie Taylor and Jamison Brockenbrough hit back-to-back solo home runs as Tennessee secured the run-rule walk-off victory.
Payton Gottshall got the start for Tennessee, tossing four shutout innings with two hits, one walk and three strikeouts en route to her 17th win.
Ryleigh White relieved Gottshall to start the fifth and finished out the night, allowing one unearned run.
Alex Clesi opened the game for the Bruins and threw two innings, giving up three runs on seven hits. She gave way to Ellie Giles in the third who surrendered four runs on three hits in just one inning of work. Rayna Cruickshanks pitched the final 2.2 frames, letting UT score twice on three hits.
Clesi suffered the loss – her fourth this season.
STAT(s) OF THE DAY
Tennessee has owned the Volunteer State since founding the softball program in 1996 and now holds a 145-4 record against in-state opponents with Tuesday night's win.
The Lady Vols have been on fire at home over the past two seasons, going 39-6 and winning 22 of their last 24 games at SPL.
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols now turn their attention to No. 17 Alabama as they head south to Tuscaloosa for a three-game series April 26-28.