SEC Champs (UT Athletics)
The third-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols clinched back-to-back SEC regular season titles on Friday for the first time in program history with an 8-3 victory over No. 24 Kentucky at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
The title is Tennessee's third regular season triumph and sixth overall conference crown. The Lady Vols displayed dominance throughout the title run, winning all eight SEC series this season.
Tennessee (39-9, 18-5 SEC) secured the regular season conference title in come-from-behind fashion.
For the second night in a row, the Wildcats jumped out to an early lead – scoring three runs in the third.
Kentucky's (30-20, 8-15 SEC) Ally Hutchison provided all the offense for UK with a three-run home run.
The Lady Vols responded with two runs in the bottom half of the third, as
Sophia Nugent and
Taylor Pannell hit back-to-back RBI singles to score
Rylie West and
Zaida Puni – cutting the deficit to one.
In the fourth,
Kiki Milloy hit a three-run bomb to capture the lead and set Tennessee on its way to another championship.
The Lady Vols added one more run in the inning as they loaded up the bases before
Destiny Rodriguez drew a bases-loaded walk – extending the UT lead 6-3.
Taylor Pannell put an exclamation point on the victory with her sixth home run of the year, a solo to put the Vols up 8-3 in the bottom of the sixth.
Payton Gottshall started in the circle Friday night for the Lady Vols, tossing three innings. She surrendered three runs on five hits with three strikeouts.
Karlyn Pickens came on in relief and secured her 18th victory of the season, pitching four innings with no runs or hits and fanning five batters.
Pitcher Jaden Vickers suffered the loss for Kentucky – her seventh for the year. She surrendered five runs off eight hits.
Sydney Langdon relieved Vickers in the circle for the Wildcats. She gave up three runs and two hits.
UP NEXT
Tennessee and Kentucky finish the series on Saturday with first pitch set for 2 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.