#6 Tennessee Tops Minnesota, 4-2, on Friday

Friday, February 15

Clearwater, Fla.

3 pm

University of Tennessee

7-0

Minnesota

2-2

Minnesota

Tennessee

Photo by: Alison P. McNabb\Tennessee Athletics

February 15, 2019 | Softball

Box Score Box Score

By: Rachel Gunia

CLEARWATER, FLA. – No. 6 Tennessee used timely hits and key performances from its pitching staff to down the Minnesota Gophers, 4-2, in Game 2 of the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational on Friday.

Five Lady Vols recorded hits while Amanda Ayala and Ally Shipman drove in UT's four runs.

Caylan Arnold earned the start and the win, while Matty Moss came in to pitch the fifth inning, fanning three batters. Arnold allowed two runs on three hits and tossed three strikeouts through six frames.

Minnesota opened up the game with a hit and went on to plate one run on a double steal. Both teams were held scoreless in the second.

Answering in the third, the Lady Vols scratched three runs across on Ayala's second homer of the season. Jenna Holcomb first reached base and advanced to second on a throwing error by Minnesota's second baseman before Aubrey Leach walked. Ayala then sent one sailing over the center-field wall to give Tennessee the 3-1 advantage.

The Gophers were limited to one run until the fifth, when Allie Arneson reached on a walk and scored on a single up the middle, trimming UT's lead to 3-2.

In the sixth frame, Tennessee plated an insurance run on Shipman's single to center. Chelsea Seggern had reached on an error and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Morgan before scoring on the Valencia, Calif., native's hit.

With the victory, the Lady Vols improve to 7-0 on the season.

NOTES:
RBI LEADERS: Chelsea Seggern and Ally Shipman are tied for the team lead in runs driven in with 10 each. Amanda Ayala is close behind with nine after hitting the three-run homer vs. Minnesota on Friday.

NEXT UP: Tennessee plays #23/25 James Madison at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 16, on Field #9 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. The game will be streamed on ESPN3/WatchESPN App with a live radio broadcast and stats available on UTSports.com.