Softball Preview: #12 Lady Vols at Liberty

LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Set for its final midweek matchup of the 2022 season, the No. 12 Tennessee softball team visits Liberty Wednesday afternoon to round out non-conference play against the Lady Flames. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. from Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.

A rematch from the 2021 NCAA Knoxville Regional, Wednesday's matinee will be broadcasted online via ESPN+. An audio broadcast featuring voice of the Lady Vols softball team Brian Rice will be available on UTSports.com.

LAST TIME OUT: Tennessee's offense was firing on all cylinders in a 9-1 run-rule victory over East Carolina on Sunday, rounding out a perfect 3-0 weekend at the 2022 Lady Vol Challenge. UT posted 12 hits, including six for extra bases, with freshman McKenna Gibson and sophomore Rylie West each mashing two-run homers. Junior outfielder Kiki Milloy notched her first three-hit outing of the season, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs, two runs and two stolen bases.

PERFECTO: Lady Vol senior right-hander Ashley Rogers opened the Lady Vol Challenge spinning Tennessee's 15th perfect game in program history, retiring 15 consecutive ECU batters in the 8-0 run-rule win. The Athens, Tennessee, native fanned a season-high 12 batters, striking out the side three times in five innings pitched.

EDMOUNDSON DAZZLES: Graduate lefty Erin Edmoundson followed Rogers' historic performances with another strong outing in the circle vs. SoCon favorite UNC Greensboro. The Deer Park, Texas, native racked up 10 Ks for her third double-digit strikeout performance of the season.

LONG BALL: With 73 home runs this season, the Lady Vols have recorded the most homers for the program in a single season since hitting 100 in 2015. Tennessee's 1.59 home runs per game rank fourth in the SEC and 11th in the country this year, and UT touts an 18-2 record when hitting two or more homers in a game in 2022.

HBP UNIT: The Lady Vols lead the SEC with 78 hit by pitch this season, led by career record holder Ashley Morgan who ranks second in the league with 16 HBP. Ivy Davis (15), Kiki Milloy (13) and McKenna Gibson (10) each sit inside the conference's top 10 in hit by pitch this season, and Tennessee is the only program in the country with four players sporting 10-plus HBP in 2022.

MILLOY MANIA: All-American outfielder Kiki Milloy has shined for the Lady Vols in non-conference play, batting a team-high .402 with a UT-best 37 hits, 34 runs scored, seven doubles, 11 homers, 33 RBIs, 12 walks and 19 steals. She also boasts Tennessee's best on-base and slugging percentage against non-league foes at .509 and .837, respectively.

NOTING THE OPPOSITION: The Lady Flames boast an unblemished 18-0 record in Atlantic Sun Conference action and enter Wednesday's contest with a 35-13 record overall. Liberty has won 21 of its last 22 games and recently knocked off No. 9 Duke before sweeping Jacksonville in a three-game set on the weekend.

Head Coach (Record at Liberty): Dot Richardson (295-205, 9th year)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 20-1
Last Meeting: No. 25 Liberty topped No. 18 Tennessee 6-4 to eliminate the Lady Vols from the NCAA Knoxville Regional on May 22, 2021.
Key Player/Stat: Emily Kirby is the reigning ASUN Pitcher of the Week after hold No. 9 Duke to one earned run in an 8-3 win last week and tossing her fourth shutout of the season on Saturday vs. Jacksonville.

UP NEXT: Tennessee will hit the road for its final SEC away series at Ole Miss, with the three-game set running Saturday to Monday at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.

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

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Players Mentioned

Ivy Davis

Erin Edmoundson

McKenna Gibson

Kiki Milloy

Ashley Morgan

Ashley Rogers

Rylie West

University of Tennessee Athletics