Webber Walks Off As #18 Lady Vols Run-Rule Austin Peay, 9-1

Tuesday, March 8

Knoxville, Tenn.

4:00 PM

University of Tennessee

16-6

Austin Peay

12-7

Austin Peay

Tennessee

Photo by: Emma Corona/Tennessee Athletics

Webber Walks Off As #18 Lady Vols Run-Rule Austin Peay, 9-1

March 08, 2022 | Softball

Box Score Box Score Updated Season Stats Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Heavy rain looming in the forecast did nothing to dampen the 18th-ranked Lady Vols Tuesday afternoon, as Tennessee topped the Austin Peay Governors 9-1 in five innings to round out an undefeated seven-game homestand. Junior designated player Madison Webber secured the run-rule victory with a game-ending two-run blast in the bottom of the fifth.

The walk-off shot was the first career home run for the Sevierville, Tennessee, native and highlighted three bombs for the Lady Vols over the final two frames. Freshman Lair Beautae and Ashley Morgan each led off the fourth and fifth innings with solo blasts, respectively.

In the first matchup between the two in-state schools since 2010, sophomore pitcher Bailey McCachren followed up her one-hitter from last Friday with another strong outing. The Cumming, Georgia, native posted a complete game, only giving up one run on four hits and striking out four for a new season-high.

When Austin Peay threatened with base runners aboard, McCachren calmly worked herself out without giving up the big inning. In the fourth, she struck out one Governor and harmlessly popped up another to avert any damage and only allowed one run in the fifth.

Junior outfielder Kiki Milloy opened the scoring for the Lady Vols in the third, singling in fellow outfielder Kaitlin Parsons. Parsons put herself in scoring position through strong baserunning, stealing second and forcing an errant throw that allowed her to move to third base. The stolen base was an effective tactic for the Lady Vols, swiping three bags in the inning. Productive RBI groundouts from Rylie West and Ashley Morgan extended the lead to 3-0 through three frames.

Freshman Lair Beautae extended her homerun streak to two games, blasting her second career round tripper off the scoreboard in the fourth inning to increase the cushion to four runs. Super senior Amanda Ayala also continued her recent hot streak, doubling in two runs over the left fielder's head.

After giving up its sole run of the game in the top of the fifth, UT immediately countered with a knockout punch—leading off the inning with Morgan's fourth homer of the season and culminating with Webber's first of the season to walk off 9-1. Morgan's solo shot was an opposite-field rocket off the scoreboard in left center, while Webber's was a blast to dead center to cement the final score.

With the win, Tennessee improves to 138-4 all-time against in-state foes and 86-0 against current members of the Ohio Valley Conference.

UP NEXT: The Lady Vols hit the road to start conference play, traveling to Columbia to face No. 8/14 Missouri. First pitch for Friday's series opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET and can be seen on SEC Network+.

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