University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
35-12
Lipscomb
24-24
Big Fifth Inning Leads UT to Comeback Win over Lipscomb
April 24, 2016 | Softball
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- An eight-run fifth inning propelled the 12th ranked Volunteers to a 10-2 win over Lipscomb in the final game of the Tennessee Classic on Sunday afternoon at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
The Vols (35-12) entered the fifth inning trailing the Lady Bisons by a run, but a pair of long balls from Megan Geer and Gretchen Aucoin busted the game wide open and helped the Orange and White extend its winning streak over in-state opponents to 87 consecutive games.
Eight Tennessee players recorded hits in the win, led by Meghan Gregg's 4-for-4 performance. Gregg set a new career high for hits with her perfect day at the plate.
Erin Gabriel didn't allow a single hit in two innings of relief to improve to 17-5 on the year. Matty Moss got the start and was solid on the afternoon, allowing a pair of runs on just three hits in four innings of work.
Tennessee had a chance to take an early lead after loading the bases with no outs in the second inning, but Lady Bisons' pitcher Kelly Young recorded three straight strikeouts to get out of the jam unscathed. The senior right-hander finished the afternoon with seven strikeouts but also allowed six runs on nine hits over 4.1 innings pitched.
Lipscomb (24-24) went on to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth on a two-run homer by Caitlin Plocheck with two outs. The Vols responded quickly by cutting the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth. Gregg singled for her second hit of the day and came around to score on a triple to center field by Rainey Gaffin.
The Big Orange completed the comeback and broke the game open by scoring eight runs in the fifth inning. Aubrey Leach and Brooke Vines got things going with back-to-back singles and scored on Geer's three-run blast over the center-field wall to give the Vols their first lead of the game.
After two more singles and a walk loaded the bases, Aucoin went opposite field for her second grand slam of the year to put UT up by six. Leach capped off the scoring in the inning with a two-out RBI single to score CJ McClain and give Tennessee a commanding 9-2 advantage.
Gregg completed her stellar afternoon with a walk-off double in the bottom of the sixth to score Geer from first base and send the run-rule into effect. Tennessee has now won via run-rule in 11 of their 19 victories at home this season.
The Vols will have another chance to extend their in-state win streak as Tennessee Tech visits Lee Stadium on Wednesday at 6 p.m. for the final midweek home game of the season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gabriel, Erin (17-5)
L: YOUNG (12-9)
Batting:
HR: PLOCHECK 1
RBI: PLOCHECK 2
Base Running:
RUNS: BREWER 1 ; PLOCHECK 1
Batting:
2B: Gregg, Meghan 2 ; Overstreet, Lexi 1
3B: Gaffin, Rainey 1
HR: Geer, Megan 1 ; Aucoin, Gretchen 1
RBI: Leach, Aubrey 1 ; Geer, Megan 3 ; Gregg, Meghan 1 ; Gaffin, Rainey 1 ; Aucoin, Gretchen 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Leach, Aubrey 1 ; Vines, Brooke 1 ; Geer, Megan 2 ; Gregg, Meghan 2 ; Overstreet, Lexi 1 ; Geathers, Shaliyah 1 ; Aucoin, Gretchen 1 ; McClain, CJ 1
SB: McClain, CJ 1
HBP: Gaffin, Rainey 1
