Hot Bats Help #5/7 Lady Vols Take Series Finale vs. #13/14 AU, 8-1

Sunday, April 7

Knoxville, Tenn.

6 pm

University of Tennessee

29-8, 7-5

Auburn

32-8, 8-4

Auburn

Tennessee

Hot Bats Help #5/7 Lady Vols Take Series Finale vs. #13/14 AU, 8-1

April 07, 2019 | Softball

Box Score Box Score Highlights Postgame Interview: Co-Head Coach Ralph Weekly Postgame Interview: Freshman Ashley Rogers

By: Rachel Gunia

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 5/7 Lady Vols used hot bats and a complete-game pitching performance from freshman Ashley Rogers to down No. 13/14 Auburn, 8-1, in the series finale after a weather delay postponed first pitch by an hour at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on Sunday.

Tennessee won the final game of the series to improve to 29-8 overall and 7-5 in SEC play. The Tigers took the first two contests of the weekend to win the series but move to 32-8 (8-4 SEC) with the finale loss.

Rogers got the start and the win, throwing her 10^th complete game of the season. The righty allowed just one run on five hits and struck out six batters in the outing to improve to 13-2 on the year.

At the plate, UT was led by a 3-for-4 effort from junior Chelsea Seggern. Three other Lady Vols recorded multi-hit performances as Jenna Holcomb (2-for-3), Ashley Morgan (2-for-3) and Amanda Ayala (2-for-4) all tallied two hits. Kaili Phillips (1-for-3) and Morgan notched three RBIs apiece in the performance while Kaitlin Parsons (1-for-4), Seggern and Phillips each scored twice.

Defensively, Holcomb delivered three big catches for the Lady Vols. The junior held onto a ball after making contact with the wall and made two Sports Center Top 10 worthy diving catches in left during the game.

Tennessee struck first in the contest, scoring two runs on four hits and an RBI groundout in the first inning. UT loaded the bases with one out thanks to a fielder's choice and back-to-back singles by Leach and Seggern. Phillips then hit an RBI groundout to second, giving UT a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Ayala singled to shortstop to make it a 2-0 game.

Auburn answered in the top of the second, putting one run on the board on a solo hit over the center field wall.

Both teams went on to trade scoreless innings until the fifth when the Lady Vols extended their lead by three runs.

In the frame, UT batted around the order and scratched three runs across on five hits. Parsons led off with a walk then stole second. In the next at-bat, she advanced to third on Seggern's hit before Phillips knocked a two-RBI single to short. Ayala's one-bagger to center one batter later made it a 5-1 game.

Keeping the offense going in the sixth, Tennessee plated three more runs on Morgan's third home run of the season. With two outs, Seggern singled to right before Phillips reached on a hit-by-pitch. Morgan then blasted a ball left up in the zone to left-center field to give UT an 8-1 advantage.

The Orange and White held Auburn scoreless in the top of the seventh despite the Tigers putting a runner on third thanks to three infield outs.

ON DECK: Tennessee hosts Mississippi State this weekend in a Friday-Sunday series on April 12-14. All three games will be aired on SECN+/WatchESPN App. The games will also be carried on AM 990 and a live radio stream will be available on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Gameday App.