University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
20-6, 0
#18 Missouri
19-4, 0
#14 UT Outslugs #18 Mizzou, 12-4 (6)
March 20, 2015 | Softball
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tory Lewis, Megan Geer, Taylor Koenig and Meghan Gregg hit home runs on Friday to power No. 14 Tennessee past No. 18 Missouri, 12-4, in six frames in Game 1 of their three-game series at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
The Lady Vols (20-6, 2-2 SEC) scored one run in the first inning, four in the second, four in the fourth and three in the sixth. The Tigers (19-4, 3-1 SEC) plated runs in the second, third, fifth and sixth.
UT's 12 runs and 14 hits were its most in an SEC game since an 18-hit, 15-2 (5) win at Texas A&M on April 12, 2014.
Geer went 3-for-4 with the homer, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Koenig finished 2-for-4 with a grand slam. Lewis had three RBIs and Gregg went 3-for-4. Erin Gabriel (10-2) earned the win after striking out four and allowing three runs over four frames. Rainey Gaffin struck out three and gave up one run in two relief innings.
Mizzou starter Tori Finucane (9-4) took the loss after allowing five runs over two innings. Cheyenne Baxter gave up seven runs in 3.2 relief innings. Tennessee took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Annie Aldrete clubbed a two-out RBI triple to center field, scoring Geer from third base. The triple was Aldrete's first on the season and the third of her career.
Missouri answered with one run in the top of the second to knot the game at 1-1. With two outs, Angela Randazzo hit an RBI single down the left field line, plating Amanda Sanchez.
UT added four more runs in the bottom of the second to take a 5-1 lead. With two outs, Lewis ended a 10-pitch at-bat by crushing a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right field for her second career home run. Two batters later, Geer smashed a 1-2 pitch for a two-run homer to left field.
The Tigers scored one run in the top of the third when Corrin Genovese grounded into a 4-3-6 double play and Emily Crane scored before Sami Fagan was caught in the rundown.
In the bottom of the fourth, Koenig smashed a two-out grand slam to straightaway center to expand the Lady Vols' lead to 9-2. The homer was Koenig's team-high 11th of the year and Tennessee's third grand slam of the season. It was also the first grand slam of Koenig's collegiate career.
Randazzo hit a leadoff home run to center field to open the fifth inning, bringing Mizzou to within 9-3.
The Tigers opened the sixth inning with another home run. Genovese smacked a solo blast to left off a 1-2 pitch from Gaffin, pulling Mizzou to within 9-4.
The Lady Vols ended the game in the bottom of the sixth. Gregg hit a one-out solo homer to center field. Three batters later, Koenig singled to left field and Aldrete scored on a fielding error. With the bases loaded and two outs, Lewis hit a game-ending RBI single through the right side to plate CJ McClain.
Tennessee and Missouri will play Game 2 of their season series on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET. That game will be televised live on SEC Network with Jonathan Yardley on the call and Garland Cooper providing analysis. Saturday's and Sunday's games will also feature a live audio broadcast on WNML 990 AM with Brian Rice on the call.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gabriel, Erin (10-2)
L: Tori Finucane (9-4)
Batting:
HR: Corrin Genovese 1 ; Angela Randazzo 1
RBI: Corrin Genovese 1 ; Angela Randazzo 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Emily Crane 1 ; Corrin Genovese 1 ; Amanda Sanchez 1 ; Angela Randazzo 1
Batting:
2B: Aldrete, Annie 1
3B: Aldrete, Annie 1
HR: Geer, Megan 1 ; Gregg, Meghan 1 ; Koenig, Taylor 1 ; Lewis, Tory 1
RBI: Geer, Megan 2 ; Gregg, Meghan 1 ; Aldrete, Annie 1 ; Koenig, Taylor 4 ; Lewis, Tory 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Gaffin, Rainey 1 ; Geer, Megan 3 ; Gregg, Meghan 1 ; Aldrete, Annie 1 ; Devotie, Hannah 1 ; Aucoin, Gretchen 1 ; Koenig, Taylor 1 ; McSwain, Scarlet 1 ; Lewis, Tory 1 ; McClain, CJ 1
HBP: Tarango, Cheyanne 1
