SOFTBALL CENTRAL: Judi Garman Classic

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Following a 5-0 showing in the Lady Vols' home opening tournament, the No. 7 Tennessee softball team is set to play UTSA, Fresno State, New Mexico, Michigan and #20 Oregon at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 28, through Saturday, March 2.

In Week 3 of the regular season, the Lady Vols were led by dominant performances from Aubrey Leach and Ashley Morgan as they both batted over .500 at the plate. In the circle, all three of UT's pitchers collected complete-game wins while Ashley Rogers and Caylan Arnold each threw shutouts.

Broadcast Info

Tennessee's games against Fresno State and Michigan can be followed on UTSports.com via a live stats link on the schedule page next to the games. All of the contests will be broadcast by FloSoftball.

Need to Know

The Lady Vols are playing in the Judi Garman Classic for the first time this season. Tennessee has only played in one other tournament, the 2006 Worth Invitational, hosted in Fullerton, Calif. UT went 3-0 that weekend.
All of Tennessee's six freshman have had their numbers called in the lineup as Kaitlin Parsons, Ally Shipman, Madison Pacini, Kaili Phillips, Gracie Osbron and Ashley Rogers have all started at least five games this season.
As a team, Tennessee's 126 strikeouts ranks second in the SEC behind only Florida's 158. Right-handed pitcher Matty Moss is third in the nation with a 20.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The senior has issued just two walks through 25.2 innings of work.
Overall, UT has four players (Leach, Chelsea Seggern, Ashley Morgan and Amanda Ayala) who sit in the the top-10 of the SEC with batting averages over .444. Senior infielder Aubrey Leach leads the SEC and ranks 22nd in the nation with a .533 average. Tennessee's .356 average at the plate ranks second in the conference and 10th in the nation.

Scouting Report

UTSA

Head coach Michelle Cheatham is in her sixth season at the helm of the Roadrunners' program. Last season, UTSA finished 20-30 overall and 7-14 in C-USA action. Senior Bailee Baldwin garnered postseason accolades and posted a career-high 19 home runs, along with 55 hits, 43 runs, 11 doubles, one triple, 45 RBIs and a batting average of .362.
Celeste Loughman was named Conference USA Player of the Week after recording a batting average of .611 with 11 hits and four runs as the Roadrunners went 5-0 at the Cardinal Classic.

All-Time Record vs. UTSA: 1-0

At Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Tennessee won, 2-1 (2/24/96)

FRESNO STATE

Linda Garza guided the Bulldogs to their 37th consecutive 30-win season in 2018 and a winning record for the 41st straight year since the program's inception. The team finished with a 31-23 overall record and a 14-10 mark in the Mountain West.
At the plate Hayleigh Galvan leads the team with a .452 average, 13 RBIs and six doubles.
Hailey Dolcini boasts a 2.01 ERA through 24.1 innings of work and is tied for the team lead with three wins. She's struck out 21 batters and allowed seven earned runs through six appearances.

All-Time Record vs. Fresno State: 2-2

At Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: Fresno State won, 7-3 (1/12/16)

NEW MEXICO

Head coach Paula Congleton enters her second season at the helm of the Lobos in 2019. Last season, New Mexico finished 14-39 (7-17 MW).
In the circle, Kiana Spencer has a team-best 2.50 ERA through nine games and leads the staff with three wins.
Three Lobos players are batting over .300 with Bailey Klitzki owning a .400 average to lead the squad.

All-Time Record vs. New Mexico: First Meeting

At Neutral Sites: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting

MICHIGAN

Michigan, the 2018 Big Ten Conference champions, returns seven starters in 2019, including a pair of NFCA All-Americans from a season ago. Head coach Carol Hutchins, the winningest coach in NCAA softball history, is in her 35th year at Michigan.
Natalia Rodriguez leads the team with a batting average of .344 while Lexie Blair comes in at a close second (.340). Blair's 17 hits and 50 at-bats pace the Wolverines.
In the circle, Meghan Beaubien has thrown four complete games, including two shutouts, through 42.0 innings of work.

All-Time Record vs. Michigan: 5-3

At Neutral Sites: Series tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: Tennessee won, 4-3 (5/28/10)

OREGON

Melyssa Lombardi is in her first season as the Duck's head coach. Lombardi had highly successful 21-year tenure as an assistant at Oklahoma, including the final 11 years as associate head coach. In 2017, she was named the NFCA DI Assistant Softball Coach of the Year.
Six of Oregon's players are batting over .300 while Shaye Bowden leads the squad with a .409 average. Her 18 hits, one triple, .636 slugging percentage and 14 RBIs are also tops on the team.
In the circle, Jordan Dail is a perfect 9-0 in her nine starts and has pitched six complete games with two shutouts.

All-Time Record vs. Oregon: 3-2

At Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 3-2
Last Meeting: Tennessee won, 1-0 (2/24/18)

Tournament Schedule

Thursday, Feb. 28
3:30 p.m. #7 Tennessee vs. UTSA
8 p.m.           #7 Tennessee vs. Fresno State

Friday, March 1
5:30 p.m.   #7 Tennessee vs. New Mexico

Saturday, March 2
5:30 p.m. #7 Tennessee vs. Michigan
11 p.m.    #7 Tennessee vs. #20 Oregon

*Home team is in bold

More Information

Overall, there will be 36 games in the tournament with 20 being played at Anderson Family Field presented by USA Softball and the remaining 16 games will be played at PGF Field, the secondary field on-site of the Titan Sports Complex.

Cal State Fullerton has modified the ideal parking and entrance plan for softball for the 2019 season. Fans are encouraged to park in Lot A and walk to the field via the road between Titan Stadium and the track and field complex. For more information and directions, click HERE.

For the latest news and information on the Lady Vols, follow Tennessee softball on Twitter (@Vol_Softball), Facebook (Vol Softball), Instagram (@Vol_Softball) and UTSports.com/Softball.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Broadcast Info

Need to Know

Scouting Report

Tournament Schedule

More Information

Players Mentioned

Caylan Arnold

Amanda Ayala

Aubrey Leach

Ashley Morgan

Matty Moss

Gracie Osbron

Madison Pacini

Kaitlin Parsons

Kaili Phillips

Ashley Rogers

Chelsea Seggern

Ally Shipman

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