Vols Lose Late Lead in Setback to #4 Alabama

Sunday, February 28

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

2:00 PM

University of Tennessee

10-5

No. 4/4 Alabama

15-1

Tennessee

Alabama

February 28, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 28, 2016

Box Score | Highlights | Karen Weekly Postgame |

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- No. 14/19 Tennessee battled back from a 3-run deficit to take a late lead but couldn't hang on against No. 4/4 Alabama, falling 6-5 in the finale of the Easton Bama Bash at Rhoads Stadium.

Freshman pitcher Matty Moss gave UT another outstanding effort in the circle after coming in to relieve starter Erin Gabriel in the second inning. Heading into the seventh, Moss had held Alabama scoreless and had only given up two hits in five innings of relief.

"I thought our kids played really well today against a very good Alabama team in front of a sold out Rhoads Stadium," co-head coach Ralph Weekly said. "I was especially proud of our freshmen and I think that this team is on the cusp of being a pretty good ball club."

The Vols dug themselves an early hole after giving up a 3-run homer in the bottom of the first inning but powered their way back to a 5-3 lead thanks to a pair of home runs from Shaliyah Geathers and Lexi Overstreet in the fifth and sixth innings.

Unfortunately, UT couldn't hang on as the Crimson Tide plated three runs in the bottom of the seventh to walk off with their 15th win of the season.

Tennessee had a number of chances to score throughout the game with at least one runner reaching base in all seven innings. UT left seven runners on base in the game, including five over the first three innings.

Aubrey Leach led off the game with a walk and Brooke Vines followed with a bloop single but they were both left stranded in scoring position after a pop up and a strikeout by Alabama starter Alexis Osorio.

The Crimson Tide (15-1) also had their first two batters of the game reach base and both came around to score on a 3-run homer by Peyton Grantham for a quick 3-0 lead.

Tennessee was finally able to capitalize with runners in scoring position in the top of the fifth, tagging Osorio for three runs in the inning. Meghan Gregg got the Vols on the board with a double down the left-field line to score Leach, who started the inning off with a double as well. Geathers kept the momentum going with the biggest hit of the inning, a 2-run shot to right center that tied the game at three. It was the first home run of the year for Geathers and increased her RBI total for the season to 17.

The Big Orange took the lead for the first time in the sixth inning courtesy of another long ball, this time by Overstreet. The senior from Suwanee, Ga., blasted a 3-2 pitch off the light pole in left-center field to put the Vols ahead 5-3. Scarlet McSwain scored on the play after drawing her second walk of the game one batter earlier.

Moss was rolling along until the final inning when she ran into trouble after hitting the first batter and walking the second to put two runners on base with no outs. Moss rebounded with two quick outs but gave up a double to right field that allowed one run to score while an error in the outfield allowed the tying run to cross the plate. One batter later Leona Lafaele hit a walk-off single to end the game.

Seven Vols recorded hits in the game with Rainey Gaffin and Vines leading the way with two apiece. Gregg, Moss and Megan Geer were named to the Easton Bama Bash All-Tournament team.

All five of UT's losses this season have come to teams that are currently ranked in both national polls, including three losses by a single run.

"I think if the team continues to improve the way they have the last couple of weeks, I think we'll be a factor in April and May," Weekly said.

The Vols return to Knoxville for their home opener against Dayton tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. The contest will be streamed live on SEC Network +/WatchESPN.