Tennessee Shut Down by Arizona in 4-0 Loss

Saturday, May 21

Knoxville, Tenn.

2:30 PM

University of Tennessee

42-15

Arizona

38-19

Arizona

Tennessee

May 21, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

May 21, 2016

Box Score | Postgame Presser |

Postgame Quotes 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- No. 13 Tennessee was unable to solve Arizona ace Danielle O'Toole as the Wildcats came away with a 4-0 victory over the Volunteers in the winner's bracket game on Saturday afternoon at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

O'Toole allowed just a single baserunner in the game, which came in the first inning on a Brooke Vines' leadoff single. The junior left-hander recorded seven strikeouts while retiring the final 21 batters of the game.

The Vols tied a season low with only one hit while being shut out by the Wildcats for second time this season. Arizona defeated Tennessee, 1-0, back on Feb. 27 at the Easton Bama Bash in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

O'Toole and Vols' starter Matty Moss were locked in a pitcher's duel for much of the game, matching each other inning for inning until the Wildcats finally opened the scoring in the top of the sixth.

Back-to-back one-out RBI singles by Mo Mercado and Katiyana Mauga set the table for Nancy Bowling and Lauren Young, who came through with consecutive RBI singles to put Arizona ahead 2-0. Tamara Statman capped off the scoring in the inning by driving in Bowling with a sacrifice fly to spot the Wildcats a three-run cushion. Mauga drove in another insurance run with an RBI fielder's choice in the top of the seventh to account for the final margin of victory.

Moss was stuck with the loss for UT after giving up three runs on eight hits over 5.1 innings of work. The freshman from Greenville, S.C., also struck out three batters and did not give up a walk.

Tennessee will play the winner of Ohio State and Marist tomorrow at noon in an elimination game. The winner will take on Arizona at 2:30 p.m. and would have to beat the Wildcats twice in order to win the regional and advance to next weekend's NCAA Super Regionals.