Bender Tosses No-Hitter as Pitching Leads Tennessee to Pair of Victories

Sunday, February 28

Knoxville, Tenn.

10:00 AM

University of Tennessee

11-1

Central Michigan

1-2

Central Michigan

Tennessee

Bender Tosses No-Hitter as Pitching Leads Tennessee to Pair of Victories

February 28, 2021 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score Game One vs. Central Michigan Box Score Game Two vs. Northern Kentucky

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. RV/23/24 Tennessee softball improves to 12-1 on the year after a pair of dominating pitching performances from juniors Samantha Bender and Ashley Rogers propel the Lady Vols Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

Bender threw the program's 50th no-hitter all-time – the 46th individual no-no – in a run-rule 8-0 win over Northern Kentucky in Sunday's second game. It is the first no-hitter since Rogers and Matty Moss combined to no-hit ETSU on April 16, 2019.

It is the first solo no-hitter since Erin Gabriel's perfect game versus Jacksonville on March 22, 2016.

Bender is 1-0 on the year following Sunday's victory, which was her first start of the season.

In game one against Central Michigan, Rogers tossed a complete-game shutout as she threw a career-high 18 strikeouts – it is her third double-digit strikeout game this season and the eighth of her career. It is also the seventh time a Lady Vol has collected 18 strikeouts in a single-game, equaling the mark set by Lady Vol great Monica Abbott on six occasions.

The ace from Athens, Tennessee, is just the fourth pitcher to retire at least 18 batters in a single outing, joining Abbott, Ellen Renfroe and Megan Rhodes.

Game One - Tennessee 3, Central Michigan 0

Rogers surrendered just two hits against the Chippewas and did not give up a walk in her seventh win of the season. The right-hander is 7-1 on the year and leads the Tennessee pitching staff with 76 strikeouts.

Offensively, UT collected seven hits and was decisive around the diamond with six stolen bases.

The bottom of the order provided the punch for Tennessee in the second inning as freshman Rylie West (1-for-3) drove in sophomore Kiki Milloy on an RBI single for the game's first run. A hard-hit single from junior Kaitlin Parsons (1-for-2) to short stop gave UT its second run of the inning as sophomore Madison Webber (1-for-3), who got on base with a walk, crossed the plate to give Tennessee a 2-0 lead.

With one away in the sixth, senior Cailin Hannon (1-for-3) smacked a double to left field to get on base. A single from Webber pushed Hannon to third where she was able to steal home to give UT an insurance run and the game's final margin of victory.

Game Two - Tennessee 8, Northern Kentucky 0 - 5 inn.

Senior Amanda Ayala opened the scoring for UT in the first inning as she turned on the first-pitch of her at-bat and sent a solo shot over the wall in center for her fourth home run of the season.

Tennessee needed just one hit in the third inning to blow open the game as it took a commanding 6-0 lead.

Parsons (1-for-1) took a leadoff hit-by-pitch to get on base before stealing second. Back-to-back walks by Ayala (1-for-2) and Hannon (0-for-1) loaded the bases for UT. After a pop out, West (1-for-3) grounded out to third, but drove home Hannon for Tennessee's second run of the game.

A wild pitch allowed Ayala to score and another walk for Milloy put two on for Ivy Davis (1-for-3), who lined a three-run shot over the left field fence to round out the scoring in the third.

In the fifth, West hit a leadoff single and stole second to put the Lady Vols in business. Milloy drew her second walk of the game and Davis reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Webber roped a walk-off double to center, scoring West and Milloy to give UT its final 8-0 score.

Up Next

Tennessee hits the road next week as it travels to College Station, Texas, for the Reveille Classic hosted by Texas A&M. The Lady Vols open with Campbell and Lamar on March 5.