Vols Sweep Razorbacks to Start SEC Play 3-0

Saturday, March 12

Knoxville, Tenn.

3:30 PM

University of Tennessee

20-5, 3-0

Arkansas

11-12, 0-3

Arkansas

Tennessee

March 12, 2016 | Softball

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March 12, 2016

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- No. 16 Tennessee completed the series sweep of Arkansas with a 3-1 win in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium to open Southeastern Conference play a perfect 3-0.

With Saturday's doubleheader and series sweep, UT is 3-0 to open conference play for the first time since 2002, which was Ralph and Karen Weekly's first season on Rocky Top. The Vols swept Ole Miss on March 9-10 and went on to start SEC play at 4-0 that season.

Meghan Gregg brought in all three of the Volunteers' runs with a double in the bottom of the third inning while Erin Gabriel and Rainey Gaffin combined to hold the Razorbacks (11-12, 0-3 SEC) to a series-low one run on the afternoon. Gaffin earned her second win of the season after giving up a run and striking out three batters in four innings of relief.

After two scoreless innings to start the game, the Big Orange (20-5, 3-0 SEC) opened the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the third. Hogs starting pitcher Grace Moll walked the bases loaded and Gregg made her pay with a bases-clearing double off the wall in center field to put UT up 3-0.

The Razorbacks broke up the shutout with a solo home run by Ashley Diaz to lead off the top of the fourth inning. It was the third homer of the series for Diaz and all three came when leading off an inning.

However, Tennessee regrouped and Gaffin allowed only one hit the rest of the way as the Vols held on for the 3-1 victory. Megan Geer had one of UT's five hits for the game to extend her on-base streak to a career-best 24 consecutive games. Shaliyah Geathers, Gretchen Aucoin and Scarlet McSwain also had hits for the Orange and White.

The Vols have won 10 straight games and they get ready to hit the road for four games in Florida next week. Tennessee's week-long trip to the Sunshine State will feature a midweek contest at North Florida on Wednesday before a three-game showdown against the top-ranked Florida Gators over the weekend.

Fans can listen to Wednesday's game at UNF live on UTSports.com and all three of UT's games against Florida will be carried live on WNML AM 990. The entire Florida series will also be televised, with Friday's series opener being broadcast on ESPNU and the final two games set to air on the SEC Network. Click HERE for the full season schedule.