University of Tennessee Athletics
Tuesday, April 11
Blacksburg, Va.
6 p.m.
University of Tennessee
at
Virginia Tech
Softball Preview: #4/5 Lady Vols Battle #13/17 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg
April 10, 2023 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Fourth-ranked Tennessee softball opens a four-game road trip Tuesday as it travels to Blacksburg, Virginia, for a top-25 midweek showdown against No. 13 Virginia Tech.
BROADCAST INFO
Tuesday's game will air nationally on ESPNU with Mark Neeley (play-by-play) and Amanda Scarborough (analyst) on the call.
Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Softball, Brian Rice, call the action on the Vol Network (AM 990) or via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App.
NOTABLE
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Tennessee enters the weekend ranked in the top 10 in all four major polls – Softball America (No. 4), USA Softball (No. 5), NFCA (No. 5) and D1 Softball (No. 7).
SCORING IN BUNCHES
The Lady Vols are outscoring opponents 258-42 this season and are averaging 7.37 runs per game. The mark is tops in the SEC and fifth-best in the nation.
PITCHING PROWESS
Tennessee softball boats one of the nation's best pitching staffs in earned run average – checking in with a 1.18 ERA this season – leading the SEC and ranking No. 3 in the NCAA. The group has also pitched 18 shutouts in 2023, which is No. 1 in the conference and third-most in D1 softball.
Karlyn Pickens tossed a perfect game against Appalachian State on March 4, while Ashley Rogers no-hit Ole Miss on March 10. This past weekend, Payton Gottshall and Nicola Simpson threw a combined no-hitter versus Mercer.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH
Head Coach (Record at Virginia Tech): Pete D'Amour (182-49)
2023 Record: 31-9 (11-4 ACC)
Series Record: UT leads 11-8
Last Meeting: L, 2-5, on 4/20/2022 in Knoxville
Key Stat: The Hokies are coming off a series win over in-state rival Virginia and are 7-3 over their last 10 games. Virginia Tech is led in the pitcher's circle by sophomore Emma Lemley who carries a 19-3 record on the year with a 2.44 ERA. In the lineup, Emma Ritter leads the charge with a .397 batting average, 38 runs scored, 50 hits, 10 doubles, 10 home runs and 31 RBIs. She is also 14-for-14 in stolen bases.
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols go north to Lexington, Kentucky, for a three-game series against the Wildcats April 14-15.
BROADCAST INFO
Tuesday's game will air nationally on ESPNU with Mark Neeley (play-by-play) and Amanda Scarborough (analyst) on the call.
Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Softball, Brian Rice, call the action on the Vol Network (AM 990) or via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App.
NOTABLE
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Tennessee enters the weekend ranked in the top 10 in all four major polls – Softball America (No. 4), USA Softball (No. 5), NFCA (No. 5) and D1 Softball (No. 7).
SCORING IN BUNCHES
The Lady Vols are outscoring opponents 258-42 this season and are averaging 7.37 runs per game. The mark is tops in the SEC and fifth-best in the nation.
PITCHING PROWESS
Tennessee softball boats one of the nation's best pitching staffs in earned run average – checking in with a 1.18 ERA this season – leading the SEC and ranking No. 3 in the NCAA. The group has also pitched 18 shutouts in 2023, which is No. 1 in the conference and third-most in D1 softball.
Karlyn Pickens tossed a perfect game against Appalachian State on March 4, while Ashley Rogers no-hit Ole Miss on March 10. This past weekend, Payton Gottshall and Nicola Simpson threw a combined no-hitter versus Mercer.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH
Head Coach (Record at Virginia Tech): Pete D'Amour (182-49)
2023 Record: 31-9 (11-4 ACC)
Series Record: UT leads 11-8
Last Meeting: L, 2-5, on 4/20/2022 in Knoxville
Key Stat: The Hokies are coming off a series win over in-state rival Virginia and are 7-3 over their last 10 games. Virginia Tech is led in the pitcher's circle by sophomore Emma Lemley who carries a 19-3 record on the year with a 2.44 ERA. In the lineup, Emma Ritter leads the charge with a .397 batting average, 38 runs scored, 50 hits, 10 doubles, 10 home runs and 31 RBIs. She is also 14-for-14 in stolen bases.
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols go north to Lexington, Kentucky, for a three-game series against the Wildcats April 14-15.
Players Mentioned
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