Vols Win Tennessee Invitational with 4-0 Shutout

Sunday, March 6

Knoxville, Tenn.

1:30 PM

University of Tennessee

16-5

St. John's

8-8

St. John's

Tennessee

March 06, 2016 | Softball

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March 6, 2016

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The 16th ranked Volunteers completed an undefeated weekend with a 4-0 shutout over St. John's in the championship game of the Tennessee Invitational on Sunday afternoon at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

Senior pitcher Erin Gabriel added to her SEC-leading win total by earning her ninth victory already this season. The Poland, Ohio native surrendered just a single hit in four innings of work before fellow senior Rainey Gaffin threw three scoreless innings to shut the door and pick up her fourth save of the year.

Lexi Overstreet continued her stellar weekend at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run and a pair of RBIs in the win. In the Vols' five games this weekend, Overstreet lead the team with a .583 batting average, 10 RBIs, eight runs and two homers.

The Big Orange (16-5) relied on some small ball to open the scoring in the third inning. Gretchen Aucoin walked with one out and stole second before moving to third on a groundout. She came around to score one batter later on a bunt single by Overstreet to put the Vols on top, 1-0.

Meghan Gregg provided an insurance run with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, allowing Brooke Vines to score from third after leading off the inning with a walk. Two innings later, Overstreet came up with another clutch hit in to extend the Tennessee lead to three. The senior drove in Aucoin with a single to left center before the Vols added their fourth and final run on a bases-loaded walk by Megan Geer later in the sixth inning.

Tennessee's streak of run-rule victories came to an end at four games as the Vols struggled overall with runners in scoring position this afternoon, tying a program record with 16 runners left on base.

However, Gabriel and Gaffin were dominant in the circle, giving up only two combined hits as UT recorded its third shutout of the season. With the win, the Vols have now won a season-best six consecutive games as they prepare for a Tuesday meeting with Belmont before entering SEC play this Friday-Sunday when Arkansas visits Lee Stadium for three games.

Tori Free was stuck with the loss for St. John's (8-8) after giving up two runs in 3.2 innings pitched. Brittany Garcia and Hannah Anderson had the only two hits for the Red Storm for the game with a pair of infield singles.

Tuesday's game against Belmont will be played at a neutral site in Columbia, Tenn. The contest will begin at 7 p.m. ET and fans can listen live as Brian Rice has the call on UTSports.com.