Vols Open 2016 with Win Over Creighton

Thursday, February 11

Tempe, Ariz.

4:00 PM

University of Tennessee

1-0

Creighton

0-1

Creighton

Tennessee

February 11, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 11, 2016

Box Score | Karen Weekly Postgame | Vines & Leach Postgame |

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Erin Gabriel threw a gem to lead No. 8/9 Tennessee to a 5-0 opening-day victory over Creighton in the first game of the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.

Gabriel struck out 13 Bluejays' batters in a complete-game shutout for the Volunteers. The senior out of Poland, Ohio allowed only three hits on the afternoon and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh to earn her first victory of 2016.

The freshmen duo of Brooke Vines and Aubrey Leach had stellar debuts to their UT careers. Vines and Leach combined for five hits and two RBIs to pace the offense.

The Vols threatened in the bottom of the first as Vines led of the game with a single and Leach followed with a double. Unfortunately, back-to-back strikeouts with the bases loaded ended the threat for Tennessee.

UT took advantage of their chances in the second inning, however, as Gretchen Aucoin led off with a walk and came around to score on an RBI double to right field by Rainey Gaffin to open the scoring. Vines made it 2-0 with a triple to right center and scored one batter later when Leach laid down a perfect bunt single to give the Vols a 3-run lead after two innings. The native of Rancho Palos Verdes finished 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

Shaliyah Geathers added a 2-run double in the sixth inning to account for the final margin of victory.

With the win, Tennessee has now been victorious in its first game of the season for six straight years.

The Volunteers complete their opening-day doubleheader with a matchup against BYU at 6:30 p.m. ET. Fans can listen live and follow live stats on UTSports.com.