University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
17-5
Belmont
3-16
Overstreet Drives in Five as Vols Rout Belmont
March 08, 2016 | Softball
Box Score | Karen Weekly Postgame | Overstreet Postgame |
COLUMBIA, Tenn. -- No. 16 Tennessee jumped all over Belmont (3-16) with 10 runs in the first inning and cruised to a 16-0 run-rule victory in front of a capacity crowd at the Mid-State Classic in Columbia, Tenn.
With the win the Big Orange (17-5) extended their winning streak against in-state opponents to 85 consecutive games. The Volunteers have never lost to another team from the state of Tennessee under co-head coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly, going 80-0 since 2002. UT is 114-3 all-time against in-state foes.
Lexi Overstreet hit her second-career grand slam in UT's first-inning explosion and was a double away from the cycle in another outstanding performance at the plate. The senior continued her sensational start to the season with a 3-for-3 performance and a game-high five RBIs.
Erin Gabriel gave the Orange and White another fantastic effort in the circle to improve to 10-2 on the year. The Poland, Ohio native allowed only one hit in three scoreless innings before giving way to freshman Matty Moss, who gave up just two hits in the final two frames to close out the game.
The Vols wasted no time jumping all over Bruins' starting pitcher Shelby Willard, scoring a season-high 10 runs in the first inning. Megan Geer led the inning off with a single and came around to score the game's first run on an RBI fielder's choice from Meghan Gregg. After UT loaded the bases, Overstreet busted the game wide open with a grand slam to center field. It was the third grand slam for Tennessee in the last week after hitting two against UAB last Friday. Rainey Gaffin drew a bases-loaded walk while Geer and Brooke Vines had a pair of 2-RBI hits to cap off the scoring in the inning.
The Big Orange put up another crooked number in the third inning, scoring five runs to increase their lead to 15. Gregg hit a frozen rope over the wall in left field for a 2-run homer before Gaffin drove in three with a bases-clearing double to the gap in left center later in the frame.
UT's final run came courtesy of an RBI triple by Overstreet in the bottom of the fourth, her fifth RBI of the night, setting a new career high. Gaffin (four), Gregg (three), Geer (two) and Vines (two) also had multi-RBI games for the Orange and White.
The Vols enter SEC play on a season-long seven-game winning streak as Arkansas is set to visit Sherri Parker Lee stadium for three games this weekend. First pitch for Friday's series opener in set for 6 p.m. and all three games can be heard on WNML AM 990. Saturday's game will be broadcast live on the SEC Network at 3:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gabriel, Erin (10-2)
L: WILLARD, Shelby (1-8)
Base Running:
CS: WELLS, Kayla 1
Batting:
2B: Vines, Brooke 1 ; Gaffin, Rainey 1
3B: Overstreet, Lexi 1
HR: Gregg, Meghan 1 ; Overstreet, Lexi 1
RBI: Geer, Megan 2 ; Vines, Brooke 2 ; Gregg, Meghan 3 ; Overstreet, Lexi 5 ; Gaffin, Rainey 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Geer, Megan 2 ; Vines, Brooke 2 ; Gregg, Meghan 2 ; Geathers, Shaliyah 1 ; Gallo, Kassidy 1 ; Overstreet, Lexi 2 ; Aucoin, Gretchen 1 ; Lilley, Logyn 1 ; McSwain, Scarlet 2 ; Leach, Aubrey 1 ; Gaffin, Rainey 1
SB: Geer, Megan 1 ; Vines, Brooke 1 ; Gregg, Meghan 1 ; Overstreet, Lexi 1
HBP: Gallo, Kassidy 1
