University of Tennessee Athletics
Saturday, March 7
Knoxville
3 PM ET
University of Tennessee
22-0, 2-0
11
vs
6
LSU
17-6, 0-2
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4
5
6
7
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H
E
LSU
4
0
0
0
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0
0
6
5
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Tennessee
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6
0
1
3
X
11
14
0
#1 Tennessee Battles Back Against #17 LSU, Wins SEC Opening Series
March 07, 2026 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 1 Tennessee took its lumps early Saturday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, but punched back to win a slugfest, 11-6, over No. 17 LSU. The victory clinches the series for the Lady Vols as they improve to 22-0 and 2-0 in conference play.
Maddi Rutan stole the show as she started the game at third base before moving into the circle. The two-way player hadn't pitched since February 14, but locked down an LSU offense that jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after the game's first half inning.
The righty tossed 3.2 frames in relief, allowing two runs on three hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Rutan picked up the win – her second of the season.
Rutan also had a clutch two-out two-RBI double in the third inning that gave Tennessee the lead. She finished 1-for-3 at the plate with one run scored.
Gabby Leach provided the pop on Saturday as she went 4-for-4 with three runs, three RBIs and hit two home runs. Her first long ball of the day – a solo shot to center – put Tennessee on the board in the second.
Her second homer capped UT's offensive outburst as she hit another solo home run to center field in the sixth. The moment was especially sweet as she went back-to-back with her twin sister Alannah Leach, who clubbed a two-run bomb in the at-bat before.
Erin Nuwer started in the circle for the Lady Vols but struggled with location early. She allowed four runs on two hits in the first inning before giving way to Rutan. Nuwer showcased her bounce-back ability, reentering the game in the fifth after LSU cut UT's lead to one.
Nuwer closed out the contest and earned her second save of the season. She finished with two walks and two strikeouts over 3.1 innings of work.
Down 4-0 after the first inning, Gabby Leach's home run in the second cut the lead to three before a six-run third put the Lady Vols in front. Elsa Morrison drove in two with an RBI single and Gabby Leach hit a soft slap single to score another, tying the game at 4-4.
Rutan's two-RBI double put the Lady Vols ahead and Bella Faw added a little insurance with an RBI single to plate Rutan.
LSU (17-6, 0-2 SEC) did not go away as it scored two runs on a pair of solo homers in the fifth, drawing to within one run of Tennessee at 7-6.
The Lady Vols answered quickly as Taelyn Holley smoked a solo home run off the scoreboard in left-center field in the bottom of the fifth.
The Leach twins polished things off as they hit back-to-back bombs in the sixth.
BOMBS AWAY
Tennessee clubbed four home runs on Saturday, marking the second time it has had a four-homer game this season, with the first coming on February 14 against No. 6 UCLA. Taelyn Holley and Alannah Leach homered in both contests.
DUE UP
Tennessee and LSU wrap up the three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Maddi Rutan stole the show as she started the game at third base before moving into the circle. The two-way player hadn't pitched since February 14, but locked down an LSU offense that jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after the game's first half inning.
The righty tossed 3.2 frames in relief, allowing two runs on three hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Rutan picked up the win – her second of the season.
Rutan also had a clutch two-out two-RBI double in the third inning that gave Tennessee the lead. She finished 1-for-3 at the plate with one run scored.
Gabby Leach provided the pop on Saturday as she went 4-for-4 with three runs, three RBIs and hit two home runs. Her first long ball of the day – a solo shot to center – put Tennessee on the board in the second.
Her second homer capped UT's offensive outburst as she hit another solo home run to center field in the sixth. The moment was especially sweet as she went back-to-back with her twin sister Alannah Leach, who clubbed a two-run bomb in the at-bat before.
Erin Nuwer started in the circle for the Lady Vols but struggled with location early. She allowed four runs on two hits in the first inning before giving way to Rutan. Nuwer showcased her bounce-back ability, reentering the game in the fifth after LSU cut UT's lead to one.
Nuwer closed out the contest and earned her second save of the season. She finished with two walks and two strikeouts over 3.1 innings of work.
Down 4-0 after the first inning, Gabby Leach's home run in the second cut the lead to three before a six-run third put the Lady Vols in front. Elsa Morrison drove in two with an RBI single and Gabby Leach hit a soft slap single to score another, tying the game at 4-4.
Rutan's two-RBI double put the Lady Vols ahead and Bella Faw added a little insurance with an RBI single to plate Rutan.
LSU (17-6, 0-2 SEC) did not go away as it scored two runs on a pair of solo homers in the fifth, drawing to within one run of Tennessee at 7-6.
The Lady Vols answered quickly as Taelyn Holley smoked a solo home run off the scoreboard in left-center field in the bottom of the fifth.
The Leach twins polished things off as they hit back-to-back bombs in the sixth.
BOMBS AWAY
Tennessee clubbed four home runs on Saturday, marking the second time it has had a four-homer game this season, with the first coming on February 14 against No. 6 UCLA. Taelyn Holley and Alannah Leach homered in both contests.
DUE UP
Tennessee and LSU wrap up the three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rutan, Maddi (2-0)
L: Cece Cellura (3-1)
S: Nuwer, Erin (2)
Batting:
HR: Jalia Lassiter 1 ; Char Lorenz 1 ; Maci Bergeron 1
RBI: Jalia Lassiter 1 ; Char Lorenz 1 ; Maci Bergeron 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Jalia Lassiter 2 ; Sierra Daniel 1 ; Char Lorenz 2 ; Maci Bergeron 1
CS: Maddox McKee 1
HBP: Maddox McKee 1
Batting:
2B: Rutan, Maddi 1
HR: Leach, Alannah 1 ; Holley, Taelyn 1 ; Leach, Gabby 2
RBI: Morrison, Elsa 2 ; Leach, Alannah 2 ; Holley, Taelyn 1 ; Leach, Gabby 3 ; Rutan, Maddi 2 ; Faw, Bella 1
SH: Holley, Taelyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Knight, Sophia 1 ; Dodge, Ella 2 ; Shuler, Zoie 1 ; Butt, Makenzie 1 ; Leach, Alannah 1 ; Holley, Taelyn 1 ; Leach, Gabby 3 ; Rutan, Maddi 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
4
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
1b/3b
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P/INF
/ SoftballSB | Karen Weekly Postgame vs. LSU (3.7.26)
Saturday, March 07
SB | Maddi Rutan Postgame vs. LSU (3.7.26)
Saturday, March 07
SB | Gabby Leach Postgame vs. LSU (3.7.26)
Saturday, March 07
SB | Alannah Leach Postgame vs. LSU (3.7.26)
Saturday, March 07
