Tennessee Takes Series with 6-4 Win Over #16 LSU

Saturday, April 22

Baton Rouge, La.

4:00 PM

University of Tennessee

41-5, 13-3

#16/16 LSU

33-14, 8-9

Tennessee

LSU

April 22, 2017 | Softball

Box Score

April 22, 2017

Box Score | Highlights | Postgame Media

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Three RBIs from Meghan Gregg and some gutsy pitching from Caylan Arnold and Matty Moss helped No. 9 Tennessee extend its win streak to 20 games, the longest active streak in the country, with a 6-4 victory over No. 16 LSU on Saturday at Tiger Park.

The Volunteers (41-5, 13-3 SEC) let an early two-run lead slip away after giving up four in the bottom of the first, but rebounded nicely to keep the Tigers' lineup in check. After scoring four runs on four hits in the bottom of the first, LSU was held hitless over the next four innings and had just two hits for the remainder of the afternoon.

Arnold went five innings and allowed no hits or runs after the first inning to improve to 18-4 on the season. Moss struck out two in two scoreless innings to shut the door and earn her first save of the year as UT earned its fifth straight series win.

For the second day in a row the Vols jumped out to a lead in the top of the first inning, striking for a pair of runs to take a quick two-run advantage. Gregg drove in her first run of the afternoon with an RBI fielder's choice as Aubrey Leach made a nifty slide to avoid the tag at home. Brooke Vines brought in another run with a sacrifice fly to score Jenna Holcomb one batter later.

Tennessee's lead didn't last long however, as the Tigers (33-14, 8-9 SEC) erased the lead with four runs in the bottom of the first on four hits and one UT error to take a 4-2 lead into the second.

After a scoreless second inning, Gregg tied things up at four with a two-run jack to left-center field. It was the junior's team-leading 10th home run of the season and increased her nation-leading RBI total to 66.

The Vols used their speed to manufacture the game-winning run in the top of the fifth. With runners on the corners and two outs, Vines stole second and LSU catcher Savannah Jaquish's throw went into the outfield, allowing Leach to score from third to give UT a 5-4 lead.

Chelsea Seggern started a big two-out rally for Tennessee in the sixth inning with an infield single off the pitcher's glove. CJ McClain followed with an infield single of her own before Leach singled to left field to plate pinch runner Treasuary Poindexter and extend the Vols' lead to 6-4. Leach had a huge day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two runs, two walks and an RBI.

After a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth, Moss came in to relive Arnold and escaped a jam with a pair of strikeouts and a pop up to strand two Tigers in scoring position and preserve Tennessee's two-run lead.

Sydney Smith was stuck with the loss for LSU after giving up six runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings of work. Emily Griggs led the Tigers offensively with two hits and a run scored.

20 AND COUNTING...: UT's 20-game win streak now stands alone as the fourth longest in program history. The Vols would need to win four more games to tie the second longest win streak of 24 games, which was recorded in 2006 and over the 1996-97 seasons.

GREGG GOES YARD: National RBI leader and player of the year candidate Meghan Gregg continued her big weekend with a two-run homer to tie the game in the third inning. The homer was Gregg's first in 12 games and gives her 10 on the year, marking the third consecutive season that she has finished with double-digit dingers. Gregg finished with three RBIs on the day as well and reached base in three of her four plate appearances after drawing two walks. For the series, the Georgia native is 4-for-5 with a run and four RBIs.

PITCHING REBOUNDS TO SHUT DOWN TIGERS: Following a rocky first inning where LSU scored all four of its runs on four hits, the UT pitchers rebounded by shutting out the Tigers the rest of the way. Caylan Arnold and Matty Moss allowed just two hits over the final six innings as the Vols held on for the 6-4 victory.

UP NEXT: The Vols go for their fifth straight series sweep tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. ET in the series finale. Watch the game live on the SEC Network/WatchESPN or listen live on Sports Radio WNML (99.1 FM/AM 990) or UTSports.com.