Gabriel & Geer Lead Vols Past Marshall

Friday, February 26

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

4:00 PM

University of Tennessee

9-3

Marshall

6-3

Marshall

Tennessee

February 26, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 26, 2016

Box Score | Ralph Weekly Postgame | Gabriel Postgame | Geer Postgame |

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Megan Geer drove in three runs and Erin Gabriel threw her fifth complete game of the year to lead No. 14/19 Tennessee to a 5-1 win over Marshall at the Easton Bama Bash on Friday afternoon in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Geer was one of five different Vols to score a run and Meghan Gregg hit her first home run of the year in the third inning to help Tennessee improve to 9-3.

Marshall (6-3) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a wild play. Kaelynn Greene reached on a bunt single and the throw to first sailed down the right-field line into the corner, allowing Greene to come all the way around to score.

The Vols didn't record their first hit until the third inning but it was a big one as Geer doubled in Rainey Gaffin and Aubrey Leach, who were both hit by pitches. Gregg followed with a 2-run homer to center field to increase the UT lead to 4-1. It was the first homer of the season for Gregg after hitting 13 as a freshman in 2015.

UT took a 4-run lead as Geer drove in her third run of the game in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI groundout to score Brooke Vines, who reached on an infield single earlier in the frame.

The Big Orange didn't run into much trouble but worked out of a huge jam in the top of the sixth to keep the lead at five. Two infield singles and a fielder's choice loaded the bases with nobody out before Gabriel got Briana Daiss to strikeout swinging after a long at-bat, and then forced Taylor McCord to ground into a double play to end the threat.

Gabriel scattered six hits and struck out seven while allowing just one unearned run to improve to 6-1 on the season.

UT will play a pair of games tomorrow, kicking things off against No. 15/16 Arizona at noon ET. The Vols will also play Marshall for the second time with first pitch slated for 7 p.m. ET.