Lady Vols Drop Series Opener to Wildcats, 9-8

Friday, April 27

Knoxville, Tenn.

6 pm

University of Tennessee

40-10, 10-9

#20/18 Kentucky

29-15, 6-12

Kentucky

Tennessee

April 27, 2018 | Softball

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- No. 6/7 Tennessee gave up two tying runs in the seventh inning and one more in the eighth in a 9-8 loss to No. 20/18 Kentucky on Friday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

After a hot start offensively in which the Lady Vols (40-10, 10-9 SEC) scored at least a run in each of the first four innings, the Wildcats (29-15, 6-12 SEC) were able to swing the momentum thanks to a four-run outburst in the fifth. Matty Moss fell to 17-5 with the loss, as she went eight innings and recorded four strikeouts while allowing nine runs.

Tennessee shot out with three runs in the bottom of the first. Aubrey Leach led off the frame with a single and stole second to get in scoring position with no outs. Meghan Gregg then drove Leach in with a single of her own to put UT on the board. Later in the inning, freshman Ashley Morgan rocked a double down the left field line to score Chelsea Seggern and Amanda Ayala.

Kentucky would answer in the top of the second on a home run from Abbey Cheek, but the Lady Vols added another run in the bottom half as CJ McClain scored from second via a fielding error.

After UK scored a second run in the third, Tennessee answered with two more. Scarlet McSwain was brought in from home on a wild pitch, and Abby Lockman laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Ayala.

Tennessee netted two more runs in the fourth on a McSwain single to right field as UT increased its lead to 8-2.

The flood gates opened for the Wildcats in the fifth inning. Jenny Schaper got the scoring started with a one-out homer to left field. After Brooklin Hinz followed up with a single, Alex Martens launched another home run over the center field fence. Abbey Cheek then made it back-to-back shots with a home run to left field as UK cut it to 8-6.

Kentucky tied it up in the top of the seventh as Martens hit her second home run of the night, a two-run shot that scored Hinz.

In the eighth, Kentucky was able to load the bases before Martens grounded into a fielder's choice that allowed Katie Reed to score the eventual winning run.

Grace Baalman improved to 11-6 for the Wildcats. Baalman went four innings

UP NEXT: Tennessee will face Kentucky for the second game of the series on Saturday at 2 p.m. Before the game, the Lady Vols will honor their four seniors (Sheridan Allen, Scarlet McSwain, CJ McClain and Meghan Gregg) for Senior Day.