#16 Lady Vols Pick Up Two Wins Over FIU

Saturday, February 12

Miami, Fla.

12:30 PM

University of Tennessee

3-0

FIU

1-2

Tennessee

FIU

Photo by: Forest Jersey/Tennessee Athletics

February 12, 2022 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score Updated Season Stats

MIAMI — The No. 16 Lady Vol softball team tallied two wins on Saturday with a pair of victories over Felsberg Invitational host FIU. Tennessee took the first game over the Panthers in come-from-behind fashion, 4-3, before capping the night with a dominant 7-1 outing at Felsberg Field.

Junior outfielder Kiki Milloy led the Big Orange with four hits on the day, going 2-for-4 in both contests and driving in a pair of runs in the nightcap. Tennessee's power was on full display Saturday as four Lady Vols homered during the victories: Ivy Davis, McKenna Gibson, Ashley Morgan and Kaitlin Parsons.

GAME 1 - No. 16 Tennessee 4, FIU 3
After falling behind 3-0 in the bottom of the first, the Lady Vols scored four unanswered and held on to take a win in the first matchup vs. FIU. Senior pitcher Ashley Rogers was key in the victory as she shut down the Panther lineup over the final 4.1 innings. The Athens, Tennessee, native kept FIU off the board with seven strikeouts and no walks en route to her second win of the weekend.

FIU (1-3) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead when Bailey Grossenbacher and Gaby Ruiz laced back-to-back singles that brought in three runs for the Panthers. Grossenbacher's hit went through the middle and scored one before Ruiz' knock to right field cleared the bases and put FIU ahead by three.

With runners on second and third and no outs in the top of the second, super senior shortstop Ivy Davis delivered a single up the middle that brought Rylie West and Madison Webber home and cut the deficit to one run. Sophomore Zaida Puni knotted it up the next inning with a knock to left field, bringing Kiki Milloy in for the game-tying run.

Senior outfielder Kaitlin Parsons provided the decisive score for UT with a solo blast in the top of the fourth inning. Known for her slapping ability, Parsons swung away to left center for the second home run of her college career and first since April of her freshman season in 2019.

Three Lady Vol newcomers made their Tennessee debuts in Saturday's first game. Freshman pitcher Nicola Simpson earned the starting nod, sophomore pitcher Ryleigh White came on in relief to throw 2.1 scoreless frames, and rookie catcher Olivia Underwood came on as a pinch runner in the top of the fifth.

GAME 2 - No. 16 Tennessee 7, FIU 1
Graduate pitcher Erin Edmoundson posted Tennessee's first double-digit strikeout effort of the 2022 season in the nightcap, fanning 10 batters in six scoreless innings to earn the win. Her ninth and 10th Ks came in the top of the sixth as the Deer Park, Texas, native escaped a jam, dealing back-to-back swinging strikeouts with runners on second and third to punctuate her outing.

Batting in the home half as the tournament's No. 1 seed, the Lady Vols broke up a scoreless game in the bottom of the fourth when super senior Ashley Morgan tattooed a ball over the right center field fence for her second solo home run of the tournament. Freshman McKenna Gibson, who was making her first career start at designated player, followed suit with another mammoth shot to dead center that doubled UT's advantage in the fourth.

Sophomore Zaida Puni made it 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth, barreling a hot shot right back to the pitcher that allowed freshman Lair Beautae to score from third.

Tennessee blew the game wide open in the sixth, starting with Ivy Davis' two-run jack to center that disappeared into the Miami night sky. Super senior outfielder Amanda Ayala scored on the play after leading the inning off with a single. Kiki Milloy kept the big inning going with a two-RBI single that brought Kaitlin Parsons and Beautae across home plate.

The Panthers tacked on their lone run of the game in the top of the seventh on an RBI groundout from sophomore Bailey Grossenbacher, plating Brooke McCann from third. UT reliever Bailey McCachren made her season debut and recorded the final out on a comeback lineout from FIU senior Kayla Whitehead.

UP NEXT: Tennessee will round out the Felsberg Invitational with a rematch against the Maryland Terrapins in the tournament's championship game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Felsberg Field.

For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee softball, follow @Vol_Softball on Twitter and Instagram.