Seven Vols Post RBIs in Win over Fordham

Saturday, February 20

Clearwater, Fla.

12:15 PM

University of Tennessee

6-3

Fordham

2-7

Fordham

Tennessee

February 20, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 20, 2016

Box Score | Ralph Weekly Postgame | Gaffin Postgame |

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- No. 12/14 Tennessee got a solid performance in the circle from freshman pitcher Matty Moss and scored in five of six innings in a 10-2 victory over Fordham on Saturday afternoon at the Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Foundation Invitational.

Seven different players had RBIs for the Vols as they improved to 6-3 on the year with their second consecutive run-rule victory.

Megan Geer led the charge offensively with two runs and three RBIs, including a 2-run homer in the sixth inning. The one-two punch of Aubrey Leach and Brooke Vines were extremely effective at the top of the order yet again, combining to go 4-for-6 with three runs and an RBI.

Moss earned her third start of the year in the circle and improved to 2-0 after scattering six hits over four scoreless innings of work. Rainey Gaffin struck out three batters to close the door over the final two innings and earn her first save of the season.

Freshman Abby Lockman continued her hot hitting from yesterday's Game 2 win over Oklahoma State, driving in the first run of the game with a single up the middle in the bottom of the second. Geer lead off the inning with a walk and promptly stole second to move into scoring position before scoring on Lockman's single to put the Vols up 1-0. Lockman recorded two hits and two RBIs for the second straight game.

Geer picked up an RBI of her own with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third after Tennessee loaded the bases by drawing three walks. UT stretched its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Leach lined a 2-out double down the left-field line and scored one batter later on a single by Vines.

The Vols loaded the bases again in the bottom of the fifth and took advantage of Fordham pitcher Rachel Gillen's command issues. Gillen hit Lockman and followed that by walking pinch hitter Gretchen Aucoin to allow two more runs to cross the plate and increase Tennessee's lead to 5-0. Gillen walked seven batters and gave up all 10 runs on the afternoon.

Despite the final score, the game was relatively close throughout as the Big Orange had to work out of multiple jams to keep the Rams (2-7) off the board early on. Fordham put runners on the corners with no outs in the third inning but Moss was able to escape the jam by forcing a pop up and a fly out to end the frame. UT worked itself into another tough situation in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with just one out. However, Gaffin got a big strikeout and forced a groundout to end the threat and preserve the Vols' 3-run lead.

UT struggled defensively in the contest, committing four errors on the afternoon. Two of the miscues led directly to both of the Rams runs in the fifth inning.

The Vols responded with a 5-run outburst in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game. Shaliyah Geathers started the scoring with an RBI double and came home on a triple by Lexi Overstreet two batters later. Geer followed with a 2-run jack to straight-away center field and Gaffin ended the game with a walk-off single to right center.

Tennessee will wrap up play on Saturday evening with a game against South Florida that is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.