No. 17 Utah Hands Tennessee First Loss of 2017

Friday, February 24

Cathedral City, Calif.

9:00 PM

University of Tennessee

13-1

#17/17 Utah

9-0

Utah

Tennessee

February 24, 2017 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 24, 2017

Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calf. -- No. 15/13 Tennessee suffered its first loss of the 2017 season with a 3-0 setback to No. 17/17 Utah on Friday night at the Mary Nutter Classic.

The Vols were unable to solve Utes' starting pitcher Miranda Viramontes as she held UT's high-powered offense scoreless for the first time this season. The junior righty allowed just five hits and struck out five batters to improve to 4-0 om the year.

Aubrey Leach was the only Volunteer with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 on the night. Meghan Gregg and Abby Lockman had the other two hits for UT.

Freshman Caylan Arnold made her seventh start of the season and was stuck with her first loss of the year despite a solid performance. The Maryville native gave up just five hits but also allowed three runs in a complete-game effort.

Utah (9-0) opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first. Hannah Flippen led off with a double and scored on an RBI single to left field by Heather Bowen. The run was the first earned run that freshman Arnold had given up this season after going 29.2 innings without surrendering one to start the season.

The Utes extended their lead to 2-0 with a two-out RBI single in the top of the third. Anissa Urtez brought home Delilah Pacheco with a single up the middle after Pacheco led off the inning with a single to left field. Utah added to its lead again with a run in the fifth as Alyssa Barrera brought home Ryley Ball with a bloop single into right field.

The Vols best chance to get on the board came in the bottom of the sixth with runners on the corners and two outs. Lockman led off the inning with a single and Leach reached with an infield single later in the inning, but the Big Orange were unable to capitalize as Brooke Vines grounded out to end the threat.

VOLS DROP FIRST GAME OF 2017: Friday night's loss to Utah was the first this season for Tennessee after starting the year 13-0. The 13-0 start was the best for the Vols since they started 14-0 during the 2014 season. UT is now 1-1 this season against ranked teams.

LEACH SHINES AT THE DISH: Despite a rough night overall for the offense, sophomore Aubrey Leach was a bright spot at the plate, going 2-for-3 for the game. Leach currently ranks third on the team with a .405 batting average and 15 hits. She also ranks second on the team with 18 runs scored.

UP NEXT: The Vols conclude play at the Mary Nutter Classic with a showdown against RV/RV Texas on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the game live on FloSoftball.com or follow live stats UTSports.com.