Softball Preview: #18 Lady Vols vs. Memphis (Midstate Classic)

COLUMBIA, Tenn. -- Coming off a doubleheader sweep to begin SEC play and riding a nine-game win streak, the 18th-ranked Lady Vols have traveled from Columbia, Missouri, to Columbia, Tennessee, to take on the Memphis Tigers in a neutral site matchup dubbed the Midstate Classic. The non-conference midweek contest is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. ET first pitch on the championship field at the Ridley Sports Complex.

BROADCAST INFO: Voice of the Lady Vols' softball team Brian Rice will host an online audio broadcast of the game on UTSports.com. Fans can also follow the action with live stats provided by SIDEARM Stats.

MIDSTATE CLASSIC: Tennessee returns to Columbia for the Midstate Classic for the first time since 2019. That year, the Lady Vols defeated MTSU 8-0 in six innings as Amanda Ayala drove in three runs on a pair of doubles.

The 2022 event will mark a homecoming for Lady Vol junior Anna Fox, who hails from Columbia and attended nearby Zion Christian Academy. The infielder has scored six runs for the Big Orange this season.

LAST TIME OUT: Tennessee opened conference action at No. 8/14 Missouri this past weekend. Due to inclement weather, the series was altered to a doubleheader on Sunday with the Lady Vols taking a pair of victories over the Tigers. UT took game one by run-rule, 14-3, before rounding out the day with a 5-4 triumph to close out the weekend.

WELCOME TO THE LEAGUE: The Lady Vols had a pair of newcomers stand out in their first taste of SEC play at Mizzou. Graduate pitcher Erin Edmoundson picked up her 10th and 11th wins of the season in the circle, totaling 9.0 innings pitched on the day with seven strikeouts and one earned run. Sophomore 3B Zaida Puni was UT's most productive player offensively, hitting 4-for-6 between the two contests with two home runs and four RBIs.

ROUND TRIP: UT's most exciting play of the weekend came in the top of the fifth in game one when Milloy recorded an inside-the-park home run. The Lady Vol junior crushed a ball off the wall in center and showcased her elite baserunning as the ball rolled around the outfield, rounding the bags and plating three runs as Lair Beautae and Ivy Davis also came home on the play.

MASHING IT: With five home runs in the twin bill at Mizzou, UT has mashed 38 homers in 24 games this season. Tennessee's 1.58 home runs per game rank 12th in the country and third in the SEC.

NOTING THE OPPONENT: Memphis enters the in-state bout with a 9-15 record on the season under 11th year head coach Natalie Poole. The Tigers most recently hosted the UofM Softball Tournament, going 1-3 this past weekend with a 2-1 win over South Dakota to round out the event on Sunday.

SERIES HISTORY: Tennessee leads the all-time series with Memphis 5-0 in five matchups since 2007. The most recent game between the programs came in the 2018 Midstate Classic, an 8-0 victory for the Big Orange in five innings. Super senior outfielder Amanda Ayala went 2-for-3 in the game as a freshman.

UP NEXT: Tennessee returns to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium this weekend for the SEC home opening series against No. 8 Arkansas. The three-game set kicks off Friday evening at 6 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday's first pitches scheduled for 2 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.

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

Softball Preview: #18 Lady Vols vs. Memphis (Midstate Classic)

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Players Mentioned

Amanda Ayala

Lair Beautae

Ivy Davis

Erin Edmoundson

Anna Fox

Zaida Puni

University of Tennessee Athletics