Vols Win 16th Straight Home Opener

Monday, February 29

Knoxville, Tenn.

2:30 PM

University of Tennessee

11-5

Dayton

6-5

Dayton

Tennessee

February 29, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 29, 2016

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee softball posted its 16th consecutive victory in a home opener by defeating Dayton, 3-1, on Monday afternoon at Lee Stadium.

Senior pitcher Erin Gabriel provided the No. 14 Vols with another performance in the circle, striking out seven in 5.1 innings of work to earn her seventh win of the year. Rainey Gaffin came in to close the door, throwing 1.2 hitless innings in relief to earn her third save of the season.

Outfielder Brooke Vines was a bright spot on offense on an otherwise quiet afternoon for the Vols (11-5). The freshman from Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., drove in two runs with a triple in the third inning to give UT a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Dayton starter and reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Manda Cash also turned in a great pitching performance, holding Tennessee's potent lineup to just three hits on the afternoon.

The Vols were finally able to get to Cash in the bottom of the third inning for all three of their runs. After a single by Abby Lockman and a walk by Lexi Overstreet, Vines roped a 2-run triple into left center to open the scoring. One batter later, Flyer's left fielder Hannah DeSalvo dropped a long fly ball off the bat of Meghan Gregg, allowing Vines to score and give the Vols a 3-0 lead.

Dayton (6-5) got on the board with a Katie Ryan leadoff home run in the top of the sixth. After Gabriel hit back-to-back batters with only one out, Gaffin entered to record two big strikeouts with runners in scoring position to end the threat. The senior from Thornton, Colo., retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.

UT returns to action with a doubleheader to kick off the Tennessee Invitational this Friday afternoon at Lee Stadium. The Big Orange host UAB at 3 p.m. and Green Bay at 5:30 p.m. with both games set to be streamed live on SEC Network +/WatchESPN.