University of Tennessee Athletics
Tuesday, April 11
Blacksburg, Va.
6 p.m.
University of Tennessee
31-5
11
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Virginia Tech
31-10
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5
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Tennessee
4
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11
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Virginia Tech
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#6/7 Lady Vols Shutout and Run-Rule #14 Virginia Tech, 11-0
April 11, 2023 | Softball
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The sixth-ranked Lady Vols shutout and run-ruled No. 14 Virginia Tech Tuesday night at Tech Softball Park, 11-0, in a top-15 matchup.
Tennessee (31-5) scattered 10 hits over five innings, led by junior Zaida Puni who went 4-for-4 on the night. The third baseman scored a pair of runs and also drove in two to help UT knock off the Hokies. Three of her four hits went for doubles – setting a career-best.
Sophomore McKenna Gibson went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, three RBIs and a home run. The Santa Clarita, California, native put Tennessee up seven runs with her three-run home run in the second inning – her 10th homer of the year.
Giulia Koutsoyanopulos also picked up three RBIs with the first two coming on a first-inning double. She then drove in a run on a grounder in the fourth.
Katie Taylor doubled in fourth to plate a pair of runs to round out UT's players with a multi-RBI game.
Graduate Ashley Rogers got the start for Tennessee in the circle and went four innings, allowing just one hit with a walk and six strikeouts. Freshman Karlyn Pickens came on the pitch in the fifth, sitting the Hokies down in order.
Rogers picked up the win and is now 12-1 on the year.
Virginia Tech (31-10) started its ace Emma Lemley in the circle. She lasted just 1.1 innings, allowing seven runs on four hits. She suffered the loss and is 19-4 this season. Lemley has made 21 starts this season and Tuesday's is the first she did not complete.
Cameron Fagan picked the Hokies only hit of the game.
The win is Tennessee's 19th shutout of the season and is the ninth time it has scored double-digit runs in a game. UT also picked up its 10th ranked win in 2023 and is now 2-0 against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg all-time.
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols go north to Lexington, Kentucky, for a three-game series against the Wildcats April 14-15.
Tennessee (31-5) scattered 10 hits over five innings, led by junior Zaida Puni who went 4-for-4 on the night. The third baseman scored a pair of runs and also drove in two to help UT knock off the Hokies. Three of her four hits went for doubles – setting a career-best.
Sophomore McKenna Gibson went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, three RBIs and a home run. The Santa Clarita, California, native put Tennessee up seven runs with her three-run home run in the second inning – her 10th homer of the year.
Giulia Koutsoyanopulos also picked up three RBIs with the first two coming on a first-inning double. She then drove in a run on a grounder in the fourth.
Katie Taylor doubled in fourth to plate a pair of runs to round out UT's players with a multi-RBI game.
Graduate Ashley Rogers got the start for Tennessee in the circle and went four innings, allowing just one hit with a walk and six strikeouts. Freshman Karlyn Pickens came on the pitch in the fifth, sitting the Hokies down in order.
Rogers picked up the win and is now 12-1 on the year.
Virginia Tech (31-10) started its ace Emma Lemley in the circle. She lasted just 1.1 innings, allowing seven runs on four hits. She suffered the loss and is 19-4 this season. Lemley has made 21 starts this season and Tuesday's is the first she did not complete.
Cameron Fagan picked the Hokies only hit of the game.
The win is Tennessee's 19th shutout of the season and is the ninth time it has scored double-digit runs in a game. UT also picked up its 10th ranked win in 2023 and is now 2-0 against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg all-time.
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols go north to Lexington, Kentucky, for a three-game series against the Wildcats April 14-15.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rogers, Ashley (12-1)
L: E. Lemley (19-4)
Batting:
2B: Puni, Zaida 3 ; Koutsoyanopulos, Giulia 1 ; Taylor, Katie 1
HR: Gibson, McKenna 1
RBI: Gibson, McKenna 3 ; Puni, Zaida 2 ; West, Rylie 1 ; Koutsoyanopulos, Giulia 3 ; Taylor, Katie 2
SF: West, Rylie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Milloy, Kiki 3 ; Gibson, McKenna 2 ; Mesusan, Brylee 1 ; Puni, Zaida 2 ; Donihoo, Mackenzie 2 ; Ahlin, Amanda 1
SB: Milloy, Kiki 2
HBP: Milloy, Kiki 1 ; Gibson, McKenna 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
4
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF/1B
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INF
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OF
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