Gabriel Perfect in 10-0 Win over Jacksonville

Tuesday, March 22

Knoxville, Tenn.

5:00 PM

University of Tennessee

22-8

Jacksonville

16-17

Jacksonville

Tennessee

March 22, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

March 22, 2016

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --Erin Gabriel was masterful on Tuesday evening, throwing her second-career perfect game to lift the 17th ranked Volunteers to a 10-0 run-rule victory over Jacksonville at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

Gabriel was on her game from the start, striking out the first batter she faced and cruising from there to record the 14th perfect game in the history of Tennessee softball. The senior right-hander threw her first perfect game almost exactly one year ago in a 10-0 win over ETSU on March 24. This was also the third-career no-hitter for Gabriel, who threw her first no-no in a 6-0 victory over Illinois State on March 10 of last year.

The Poland, Ohio native kept the Dolphins (16-17) off balance throughout the game, recording seven punchouts to surpass the 100-strikeout mark this season and improve to 12-3 on the year.

While Gabriel was dominating in the circle, the Vols (22-8) also got the bats going early and often. The Big Orange jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, recording five hits to chase Jacksonville starting pitcher Taylor Rossman after just a third of an inning.

Megan Geer started things off with a leadoff double and scored the first run of the game on a passed ball. Lexi Overstreet and Gretchen Aucoin brought in runs with back-to-back RBI singles before Scarlet McSwain plated two more with a double to right field.

CJ McClain helped UT increase its lead to six with an RBI single into center field in the bottom of the third inning. It was just the third hit and second RBI of the season for McClain, who drove in McSwain on the play to make it 6-0 Volunteers.

UT blew the game wide open in the bottom of fourth with four more runs. Gregg doubled to the gap in right center to score Geer and Aucoin blasted her sixth home run of the season to plate three more runs and give Tennessee a 10-0 lead.

Aucoin tied a career-high with four RBIs while Gregg, Overstreet and McSwain all joined her in recording multi-hit efforts as Tennessee scored 10-plus runs for the 13th time this season. It was also the 12th time the Vols have won by run-ruling their opponent this year.

The win stopped a three-game losing streak for the Vols as they prepare to jump back into SEC play this Friday when Mississippi State visits Lee Stadium for the first of three games. First pitch for the series opener will be at 6 p.m., and all three games will be streamed live online via SEC Network +/WatchESPN. Purchase tickets by visiting UTTix.com.