Vols Drop Heartbreaker to No. 20 ASU

Friday, February 12

Tempe, Ariz.

9:30 PM

University of Tennessee

2-2

No. 22/20 Arizona State

3-0

Tennessee

Arizona State

February 13, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 12, 2016

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. -- No. 8/9 Tennessee fell to No. 22/20 Arizona State in heartbreaking fashion during an early-season battle of ranked teams on Friday night at Farrington Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

The Vols lost 5-4 in extra innings after climbing back from an early 3-run deficit. Lexi Overstreet went 2-for-3 and launched her first home run of the season while Megan Geer recorded a run, a hit and an RBI on the night.

After Meghan Gregg scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning it looked as though the Volunteers would earn their third win of the season. However, the Sun Devils answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to win in walk-off fashion.

It was a wild ending as ASU scored the game-winning run on a passed ball while the Vols were trying to intentionally walk Katee Aguirre.

For the second straight game UT dug themselves into an early hole due to some sloppy defensive play. After back-to-back hits to open the game for the Sun Devils, Scarlet McSwain fielded a sacrifice bunt but her throw home got past Overstreet, allowing a runner to score from third. ASU followed that with an RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly to take an early 3-0 lead after the first inning.

UT tied the game with a big fourth inning. Shaliyah Geathers led off the frame with a double and Geer followed that with a walk to put two runners on for Overstreet. The senior from Suwanee, Ga., proceeded to hammer a 3-run homer over the center field wall to tie the game at three and provide the Vols with some much needed momentum.

Both teams were held scoreless for the final three innings as pitchers Erin Gabriel and Breanna Macha were nearly unhittable down the stretch. Gabriel recorded double-digit strikeouts for the second straight start to open the season, fanning 11 Arizona State batters over 7.2 innings pitched.

With the international tiebreaker rule in effect for extra innings, the Vols were able to successfully advance Gregg from second to third on a sacrifice bunt by Geathers before Geer came up with a big sacrifice fly to allow Gregg to score the go-ahead run.

Gabriel retired the first two batters in the bottom of the eighth but an infield single brought in the tying run before the passed ball ended the game.

Tennessee concludes play at the Kajikawa Classic with another doubleheader tomorrow starting at 2 p.m. ET against San Jose State. Following the conclusion of that contest, the Vols will take on Northwestern before heading back to Knoxville. Fans can listen to both games on UTSports.com.