University of Tennessee Athletics
Saturday, April 15
Lexington, Ky.
Noon
University of Tennessee
33-5, 12-2
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Kentucky
25-12-1, 7-7
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Gibson’s Four RBIs Power #6/7 Lady Vols to Run-Rule Win
April 15, 2023 | Softball
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Sophomore McKenna Gibson clubbed a three-run home run and drove in another to power the sixth-ranked Lady Vols to a 10-2 run-rule win at No. 16 Kentucky Saturday afternoon at John Cropp Stadium.
Tennessee (33-5, 12-2 SEC) also clinched the series victory with the win over the Wildcats – its fifth SEC series triumph this season.
Gibson finished the day 1-for-2 at the plate with four RBIs and two runs scored. Senior Kiki Milloy and junior Zaida Puni were both 2-for-3 on the day with Milloy driving in two runs and scoring three, while Puni knocked three RBIs.
Sophomore Lair Beautae scored three runs, while freshman Jamison Brockenbrough scored twice.
Tennessee used a trio of pitchers with freshman Karlyn Pickens getting the start and the win. She tossed 4.1 innings with four strikeouts, four walks and one run allowed on three hits. Sophomore Nicola Simpson went 1.2 innings in relief, while freshman Charli Orsini entered the game but did not record an out – the righty allowed one run on one hit.
In the first, Kentucky loaded the bases on a hit batter and a pair of walks to bring up junior Zaida Puni who laced a single through the middle of the infield to plate two for the Lady Vols. With the next at-bat, shortstop Mackenzie Donihoo knocked a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Gibson from third and giving UT a 3-0 lead after one.
Milloy extended Tennessee's lead in the second, crushing a two-run home run – her 16th of the year – over the wall in center.
Gibson extended UT's lead in the fourth, wrapping her 11th homer of the year – a three-run home run – around the foul pole in left to put the Lady Vols up 8-0.
UK (25-12-1, 7-7 SEC) cut into Tennessee's lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth, plating one off a Karissa Hamilton double to center.
Tennessee extended its lead in the sixth courtesy of a Gibson sacrifice fly that scored Milloy, followed by a Puni double to plate Beautae.
The Wildcats mounted a rally in the bottom half of the inning, scoring one, but Pickens shut the door and preserved the run-rule victory.
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols and Wildcats conclude their three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Tennessee (33-5, 12-2 SEC) also clinched the series victory with the win over the Wildcats – its fifth SEC series triumph this season.
Gibson finished the day 1-for-2 at the plate with four RBIs and two runs scored. Senior Kiki Milloy and junior Zaida Puni were both 2-for-3 on the day with Milloy driving in two runs and scoring three, while Puni knocked three RBIs.
Sophomore Lair Beautae scored three runs, while freshman Jamison Brockenbrough scored twice.
Tennessee used a trio of pitchers with freshman Karlyn Pickens getting the start and the win. She tossed 4.1 innings with four strikeouts, four walks and one run allowed on three hits. Sophomore Nicola Simpson went 1.2 innings in relief, while freshman Charli Orsini entered the game but did not record an out – the righty allowed one run on one hit.
In the first, Kentucky loaded the bases on a hit batter and a pair of walks to bring up junior Zaida Puni who laced a single through the middle of the infield to plate two for the Lady Vols. With the next at-bat, shortstop Mackenzie Donihoo knocked a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Gibson from third and giving UT a 3-0 lead after one.
Milloy extended Tennessee's lead in the second, crushing a two-run home run – her 16th of the year – over the wall in center.
Gibson extended UT's lead in the fourth, wrapping her 11th homer of the year – a three-run home run – around the foul pole in left to put the Lady Vols up 8-0.
UK (25-12-1, 7-7 SEC) cut into Tennessee's lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth, plating one off a Karissa Hamilton double to center.
Tennessee extended its lead in the sixth courtesy of a Gibson sacrifice fly that scored Milloy, followed by a Puni double to plate Beautae.
The Wildcats mounted a rally in the bottom half of the inning, scoring one, but Pickens shut the door and preserved the run-rule victory.
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols and Wildcats conclude their three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pickens, Karlyn (8-4)
L: Sullivan, K (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Puni, Zaida 1
HR: Milloy, Kiki 1 ; Gibson, McKenna 1
RBI: Milloy, Kiki 2 ; Gibson, McKenna 4 ; Puni, Zaida 3 ; Donihoo, Mackenzie 1
SF: Gibson, McKenna 1 ; Donihoo, Mackenzie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Milloy, Kiki 3 ; Beautae, Lair 3 ; Gibson, McKenna 2 ; Brockenbrough, Jamison 2
SB: Milloy, Kiki 1 ; Beautae, Lair 1
CS: Mesusan, Brylee 1
HBP: Milloy, Kiki 1
Batting:
2B: Kowalik, K 1 ; Hamilton, K 1
RBI: Hamilton, K 1 ; Lorsung, G 1
SH: Nesby, V 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kowalik, K 2
SB: Mack, C 1
HBP: Ebbs, T 1 ; Borzilleri 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
3
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
4
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ Softball
INF
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OF
/ Softball
P
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P
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INF
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P
/ SoftballSB | Tennessee Postgame vs. Nebraska (5.25.25)
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SB | Tennessee Postgame vs. Nebraska (5.24.25)
Saturday, May 24
SB | Tennessee Postgame vs. Nebraska (5.23.25)
Friday, May 23
SB | Tennessee Postgame vs. Ohio State (5.18.25)
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