Tennessee Falls To Florida, 7-2, In Game 1 of WCWS

  • Thursday, May 28, 2015

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Megan Geer hit a two-run home run to spark a Tennessee comeback, but the Lady Vols' rally came up short in a 7-2 loss to top-seeded Florida in Game 1 of the 2015 Women's College World Series on Thursday.

Tennessee (47-16) will next face Auburn, the loser of Game 2, on Saturday at 11 a.m.

CT/Noon ET on ESPN. That game will also have a live broadcast on WNML Sports Radio and UTSports.com.

The Lady Vols scored their two runs in the fourth off of one swing of Geer's bat. Florida (56-6) plated one in the first, two in the third, two in the fourth and two in the sixth.

Rainey Gaffin (17-4) started the game and took the loss after giving up five runs (one earned) and striking out two over four frames. Erin Gabriel tossed two relief frames with two runs allowed and three strikeouts.

Lauren Haeger (29-1) earned the win after allowing two runs over seven innings.

Florida struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Haeger hit a two-out solo home run to left field. Gaffin escaped a bases-loaded jam when Kaylie Kvistad grounded out to short.

Gabriel relieved Gaffin in the circle in the second inning. With two outs, Florida loaded the bases after Haeger drew an intentional walk. Gabriel sent Bailey Castro down swinging on a full count to end the bases-loaded threat.

The Gators pushed their lead to 3-0 when they tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third when Kaylie Kvistad hit a two-run homer to right center off of Gabriel.

Geer pulled Tennessee to within 3-2 in the top of the fourth when she hit a two-run home run for UT's first hit of the day.Shaliyah Geathers was hit by a pitch with one out and two batters later Geer smashed the first pitch she saw from Haeger over the wall in left field for her 14th blast on the season. Geer's two-run shot to left was Tennessee's 100th home run of the season.

Gaffin re-entered the circle in the fourth and Tennessee defensive miscues in the bottom the fifth plated two more Florida runs, giving the Gators a 5-2 lead. With two runners on and two outs, Kirsti Merrit reached on an error at second base and Haeger crossed the plate for Florida's fourth run. In the next at-bat, Merritt stole second and the throw from home plate to try to catch her deflected off her into left field, scoring Castro.

Tennessee committed two additional errors in the bottom of the sixth, giving the Gators a 7-2 lead. In their final at-bat of the contest, Meghan Gregg grounded out to second before Geer popped up to the infield. With two outs, catcher Annie Aldrete then hit a deep fly ball to center field for the final out of the game.

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