University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, May 19
Knoxville
5:30 PM
University of Tennessee
vs
Northern Kentucky
Softball Preview: 2023 Knoxville Regional
May 18, 2023 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee softball begins NCAA Tournament action this weekend as the Lady Vols play host to the 18th consecutive Knoxville Regional at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. UT was selected as the No. 4 national seed – the highest in program history – and welcomes Indiana, Louisville and Northern Kentucky to Rocky Top for the postseason event.
Limited walkup tickets are available at the Sherri Parker Lee ticket office when gates open to the public one hour prior to first pitch of the first game each day. Parking is free for all games in lots S14 and C25 adjacent to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium and Regal Soccer Stadium, and fans should note that Tennessee Athletics' clear bag policy will be in effect.
Fans are encouraged to visit the Tennessee softball gameday information page before making their way to Sherri Parker Lee to familiarize themselves with gameday policies and procedures.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The four-team regional will take place Friday to Sunday as a double-elimination tournament, with the winner advancing to the Super Regional round. After Indiana and Louisville square off Friday at 3 p.m. to begin the Knoxville Regional, the Lady Vols will open NCAA Tournament play against the reigning Horizon League Champions of Northern Kentucky at 5:30 p.m.
Friday, May 19
SPL gates open at 2:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m. – Game 1 (Louisville vs. Indiana)
5:30 p.m. – Game 2 (Northern Kentucky vs. Tennessee)
Saturday, May 20
SPL gates open at 11:30 a.m.
1:00 p.m. – Game 3
3:30 p.m. – Game 4
6:00 p.m. – Game 5
Sunday, May 21
SPL gates open at 12:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – Game 6
4:30 p.m. – Game 7 (if necessary)
PARKING
Fans please be advised; it is graduation weekend at the University of Tennessee and traffic will be heavy around Neyland Drive and UT's campus. All fans looking to attend the softball regional should be prepared for traffic congestion. Fans are reminded that parking shuttles will be free and available at the Agriculture Campus all weekend.
Shuttle information:
Friday, May 19: Beginning at 4:00pm
Saturday, May 20: Beginning at 11:00am (Gates will open at 11:30am)
Sunday, May 21: Beginning at 12:00pm (Gates will open at 12:30pm)
HOSTING IS A HABIT
Tennessee's 18 consecutive regional hosting bids tie Alabama for the longest streak of any team in the country. UT will make its 20th overall NCAA Tournament appearance and owns an 80-44 record in the postseason showcase.
The Lady Vols have advanced past the Regional round 11 times overall and boast a 48-18 all-time record during the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
ALL-REGION HONOREES
Tennessee's standout trio of McKenna Gibson, Kiki Milloy and Ashley Rogers were each recognized on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Southeast Region Teams on Thursday. All three players were named to the regions first team.
NOTING THE FIELD
Tennessee owns a 12-0 combined all-time record against Indiana, Louisville and Northern Kentucky.
vs. Indiana: 4-0 – first meeting since March 15, 1999
vs. Louisville: 6-0 – first meeting since February 25, 2011
vs. NKU: 2-0 – first meeting since February 28, 2021
Indiana (42-16, 18-5 B1G)
Head Coach: Shonda Stanton (Record at IU: 168-117)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 4-0
Key Player/Stat: Six Hoosiers earned NFCA All-Region Honors led by Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Year Taryn Kern. The San Jose, California, native has set single season program records in home runs (22), RBIs (67) and runs scored (65). She is the only Hoosier to win two individual postseason awards in program history.
Louisville (35-18, 16-7 ACC)
Head Coach: Holly Aprile (Record at UL: 128-107-1)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 6-0
Key Player/Stat: Louisville is batting .319 as a team with five players hitting above .300 on the season. They ate led by NFCA All-Southeast Region second team members Sarah Gordon and Taylor Roby along with third team honoree Korbe Otis. Roby leads the team and is tied for second in the nation with a school-record 22 home runs this season and owns the school's career mark with 62. She stands tied for seventh among the active NCAA career leaders. Roby also leads the ACC with 56 RBIs.
Northern Kentucky (23-30, 13-9 ACC)
Head Coach: Kathryn Gleason (Record at NKU: 145-226-1)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 2-0
Key Player/Stat: Northern Kentucky won both the Horizon League regular season and tournament title in 2023. The Norse are making their NCAA Tournament debut. Ella LeMonier leads the squad with a .331 average with a team-high 30 runs scored and 21 stolen bases. Maddie Lacer boasts a team-leading 24 RBIs and is closely followed by Jena Rhoads and Sydni Barnes at 21.
UP NEXT
The winner of the Knoxville Regional will take on the winner of the Austin Regional in the Super Regional round next weekend, May 26-28.
Limited walkup tickets are available at the Sherri Parker Lee ticket office when gates open to the public one hour prior to first pitch of the first game each day. Parking is free for all games in lots S14 and C25 adjacent to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium and Regal Soccer Stadium, and fans should note that Tennessee Athletics' clear bag policy will be in effect.
Fans are encouraged to visit the Tennessee softball gameday information page before making their way to Sherri Parker Lee to familiarize themselves with gameday policies and procedures.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The four-team regional will take place Friday to Sunday as a double-elimination tournament, with the winner advancing to the Super Regional round. After Indiana and Louisville square off Friday at 3 p.m. to begin the Knoxville Regional, the Lady Vols will open NCAA Tournament play against the reigning Horizon League Champions of Northern Kentucky at 5:30 p.m.
Friday, May 19
SPL gates open at 2:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m. – Game 1 (Louisville vs. Indiana)
5:30 p.m. – Game 2 (Northern Kentucky vs. Tennessee)
Saturday, May 20
SPL gates open at 11:30 a.m.
1:00 p.m. – Game 3
3:30 p.m. – Game 4
6:00 p.m. – Game 5
Sunday, May 21
SPL gates open at 12:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – Game 6
4:30 p.m. – Game 7 (if necessary)
PARKING
Fans please be advised; it is graduation weekend at the University of Tennessee and traffic will be heavy around Neyland Drive and UT's campus. All fans looking to attend the softball regional should be prepared for traffic congestion. Fans are reminded that parking shuttles will be free and available at the Agriculture Campus all weekend.
Shuttle information:
Friday, May 19: Beginning at 4:00pm
Saturday, May 20: Beginning at 11:00am (Gates will open at 11:30am)
Sunday, May 21: Beginning at 12:00pm (Gates will open at 12:30pm)
HOSTING IS A HABIT
Tennessee's 18 consecutive regional hosting bids tie Alabama for the longest streak of any team in the country. UT will make its 20th overall NCAA Tournament appearance and owns an 80-44 record in the postseason showcase.
The Lady Vols have advanced past the Regional round 11 times overall and boast a 48-18 all-time record during the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
ALL-REGION HONOREES
Tennessee's standout trio of McKenna Gibson, Kiki Milloy and Ashley Rogers were each recognized on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Southeast Region Teams on Thursday. All three players were named to the regions first team.
NOTING THE FIELD
Tennessee owns a 12-0 combined all-time record against Indiana, Louisville and Northern Kentucky.
vs. Indiana: 4-0 – first meeting since March 15, 1999
vs. Louisville: 6-0 – first meeting since February 25, 2011
vs. NKU: 2-0 – first meeting since February 28, 2021
Indiana (42-16, 18-5 B1G)
Head Coach: Shonda Stanton (Record at IU: 168-117)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 4-0
Key Player/Stat: Six Hoosiers earned NFCA All-Region Honors led by Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Year Taryn Kern. The San Jose, California, native has set single season program records in home runs (22), RBIs (67) and runs scored (65). She is the only Hoosier to win two individual postseason awards in program history.
Louisville (35-18, 16-7 ACC)
Head Coach: Holly Aprile (Record at UL: 128-107-1)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 6-0
Key Player/Stat: Louisville is batting .319 as a team with five players hitting above .300 on the season. They ate led by NFCA All-Southeast Region second team members Sarah Gordon and Taylor Roby along with third team honoree Korbe Otis. Roby leads the team and is tied for second in the nation with a school-record 22 home runs this season and owns the school's career mark with 62. She stands tied for seventh among the active NCAA career leaders. Roby also leads the ACC with 56 RBIs.
Northern Kentucky (23-30, 13-9 ACC)
Head Coach: Kathryn Gleason (Record at NKU: 145-226-1)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 2-0
Key Player/Stat: Northern Kentucky won both the Horizon League regular season and tournament title in 2023. The Norse are making their NCAA Tournament debut. Ella LeMonier leads the squad with a .331 average with a team-high 30 runs scored and 21 stolen bases. Maddie Lacer boasts a team-leading 24 RBIs and is closely followed by Jena Rhoads and Sydni Barnes at 21.
UP NEXT
The winner of the Knoxville Regional will take on the winner of the Austin Regional in the Super Regional round next weekend, May 26-28.
Players Mentioned
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