University of Tennessee Athletics
Saturday, April 22
Knoxville, Tenn.
4 p.m.
University of Tennessee
vs
Florida
Softball Preview: #3/4 Lady Vols Host #12/14 Gators in Top 15 Showdown
April 21, 2023 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Riding a four-game win streak into the weekend, the third-ranked Lady Vols are set to face off against No. 12 Florida Saturday through Monday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Tennessee (35-5, 13-2 SEC) went on the road last week and knocked off No. 14 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg before sweeping No. 16 Kentucky in Lexington. The wins moved UT's record against ranked opponents to 13-4 on the year.
BROADCAST INFO
All three games this weekend will be televised, starting with Saturday's outing airing nationally on ESPNU. Sunday and Monday's contests will air on SEC Network. Eric Frede (play-by-play) and Madison Shipman (analyst) will call the action for all three games.
Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Softball, Brian Rice, call the action on the Vol Network via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App.
NOTABLE
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Tennessee enters the matchup ranked in the top five in all four major polls – Softball America (No. 3), D1Softball (3), USA Softball (No. 4) and NFCA (No. 4).
NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
Early in the week, Kiki Milloy and Ashley Rogers were named top 25 finalists for USA Softball's National Player of the Year award. Milloy ranks among the nation's best in a litany of categories including No. 1 in home runs (18) and home runs per game (0.45), No. 1 in runs per game (1.48), No. 5 in slugging percentage (.991), No. 7 in stolen bases (31), No. 18 in batting average (.438) and No. 24 in RBIs (44).
In the circle, Rogers has been lights out as she boasts the fourth-best ERA in the nation at 0.75. The righty holds a 13-1 mark in 2023 with 133 strikeouts, seven complete games and four shutouts. She ranks second in the nation in hits allowed per seven innings at 2.54 and averages 9.9 strikeouts per seven – a mark that ranks 17th nationally.
ROGERS' BIG WEEK
In addition to being named a finalist for national player of the year, Rogers was selected third overall in the Women's Professional Fastpitch draft on Monday night by the Smash It Sports Vipers.
She was also named the SEC Pitcher of the Week after helping the Lady Vols to a pair of wins over No. 14 Virginia Tech and No. 16 Kentucky.
Off the field, she was named Ms. Tennessee at Tennessee Athletics' annual spring awards show.
PREVENTING BIG INNINGS
The Lady Vols have allowed three or more runs in only two out of 257 innings pitched this season – tied for first in the nation with Oklahoma at a rate of 0.8 percent.
BOO STAYS HOT
Sophomore McKenna Gibson is having a breakout sophomore season – hitting .368 with a 1.271 OPS. Nicknamed "Boo" the Santa Clarita, California, native ranks second on the team in average, OPS, home runs (14) and leads the squad with 50 RBIs.
Gibson has recorded 12 multi-RBI games this year – ranking second on the squad.
Last week against No. 14 Virginia Tech and No. 16 Kentucky, Gibson smoked four three-run home runs, had 13 RBIs, seven runs scored, a 1.538 slugging percentage and a 2.101 OPS – with a .538 average (7-for-13).
HONORING A LEGEND
The Tennessee softball program will welcome back the legendary Monica Abbott to debut her newly released book: Rise & Shine: the Monica Abbott Story with a book signing and celebration of her retirement during the Florida series.
The two-time Olympic medal winner will be in Knoxville to join in Tennessee softball's alumni day taking place on Saturday, April 22 along with promoting Rise and Shine.
Monday's game three will feature a pregame ceremony and first pitch for Abbott.
SCOUTING FLORIDA
Head Coach (Record at Florida): Tim Walton (920-212)
2023 Record: 32-11 (8-7 SEC)
Series Record: Florida leads 54-31
Last Meeting: L, 1-4, on 3/27/2022 in Gainesville
Key Stat: Florida leads the all-time series 54-31 – holding a 17-15 edge in Knoxville – but the last 10 games of the series have been split 5-5. Last season, the Lady Vols played a three-game set in Gainesville, winning the series 2-1.
UP NEXT
Tennessee heads out on the road for another Saturday-Sunday-Monday series, playing at Arkansas April 29-May 1. The Lady Vols then return home to SPL for their final regular season weekend, playing host to South Carolina May 5-7.
Tennessee (35-5, 13-2 SEC) went on the road last week and knocked off No. 14 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg before sweeping No. 16 Kentucky in Lexington. The wins moved UT's record against ranked opponents to 13-4 on the year.
BROADCAST INFO
All three games this weekend will be televised, starting with Saturday's outing airing nationally on ESPNU. Sunday and Monday's contests will air on SEC Network. Eric Frede (play-by-play) and Madison Shipman (analyst) will call the action for all three games.
Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Softball, Brian Rice, call the action on the Vol Network via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App.
NOTABLE
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Tennessee enters the matchup ranked in the top five in all four major polls – Softball America (No. 3), D1Softball (3), USA Softball (No. 4) and NFCA (No. 4).
NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
Early in the week, Kiki Milloy and Ashley Rogers were named top 25 finalists for USA Softball's National Player of the Year award. Milloy ranks among the nation's best in a litany of categories including No. 1 in home runs (18) and home runs per game (0.45), No. 1 in runs per game (1.48), No. 5 in slugging percentage (.991), No. 7 in stolen bases (31), No. 18 in batting average (.438) and No. 24 in RBIs (44).
In the circle, Rogers has been lights out as she boasts the fourth-best ERA in the nation at 0.75. The righty holds a 13-1 mark in 2023 with 133 strikeouts, seven complete games and four shutouts. She ranks second in the nation in hits allowed per seven innings at 2.54 and averages 9.9 strikeouts per seven – a mark that ranks 17th nationally.
ROGERS' BIG WEEK
In addition to being named a finalist for national player of the year, Rogers was selected third overall in the Women's Professional Fastpitch draft on Monday night by the Smash It Sports Vipers.
She was also named the SEC Pitcher of the Week after helping the Lady Vols to a pair of wins over No. 14 Virginia Tech and No. 16 Kentucky.
Off the field, she was named Ms. Tennessee at Tennessee Athletics' annual spring awards show.
PREVENTING BIG INNINGS
The Lady Vols have allowed three or more runs in only two out of 257 innings pitched this season – tied for first in the nation with Oklahoma at a rate of 0.8 percent.
BOO STAYS HOT
Sophomore McKenna Gibson is having a breakout sophomore season – hitting .368 with a 1.271 OPS. Nicknamed "Boo" the Santa Clarita, California, native ranks second on the team in average, OPS, home runs (14) and leads the squad with 50 RBIs.
Gibson has recorded 12 multi-RBI games this year – ranking second on the squad.
Last week against No. 14 Virginia Tech and No. 16 Kentucky, Gibson smoked four three-run home runs, had 13 RBIs, seven runs scored, a 1.538 slugging percentage and a 2.101 OPS – with a .538 average (7-for-13).
HONORING A LEGEND
The Tennessee softball program will welcome back the legendary Monica Abbott to debut her newly released book: Rise & Shine: the Monica Abbott Story with a book signing and celebration of her retirement during the Florida series.
The two-time Olympic medal winner will be in Knoxville to join in Tennessee softball's alumni day taking place on Saturday, April 22 along with promoting Rise and Shine.
Monday's game three will feature a pregame ceremony and first pitch for Abbott.
SCOUTING FLORIDA
Head Coach (Record at Florida): Tim Walton (920-212)
2023 Record: 32-11 (8-7 SEC)
Series Record: Florida leads 54-31
Last Meeting: L, 1-4, on 3/27/2022 in Gainesville
Key Stat: Florida leads the all-time series 54-31 – holding a 17-15 edge in Knoxville – but the last 10 games of the series have been split 5-5. Last season, the Lady Vols played a three-game set in Gainesville, winning the series 2-1.
UP NEXT
Tennessee heads out on the road for another Saturday-Sunday-Monday series, playing at Arkansas April 29-May 1. The Lady Vols then return home to SPL for their final regular season weekend, playing host to South Carolina May 5-7.
Players Mentioned
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SB | Tennessee Postgame vs. Ohio State (5.18.25)
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