University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, May 5
Knoxville, Tenn.
6 p.m.
University of Tennessee
vs
South Carolina
Softball Preview: #4 Lady Vols Welcome South Carolina to Rocky Top for Final Weekend of the Regular Season
May 04, 2023 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In its final weekend of the regular season, No. 4 Tennessee will play host to South Carolina Friday through Sunday, May 5-7 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Tennessee (39-7, 17-4 SEC) is looking to bounce back from dropping its first SEC series since April 30-May 2, 2022. The Lady Vols had won seven consecutive series dating to last season.
BROADCAST INFO
Friday and Saturday's games will be televised on SEC Network with Tiffany Greene (play-by-play) and Erin Miller (analyst) describing the action. Sunday's contest will air on SEC Network+ with Roger Hoover (play-by-play) and Michelle LeCourse (analyst) on the call.
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 No. 4 in all four major polls – Softball America, D1Softball, USA Softball and NFCA. It sits at No. 11 in the most recent NCAA RPI rankings.
SENIOR DAY
On Saturday, UT will recognize two graduating Lady Vols – Shakara Goodloe and Ashley Rogers. Goodloe – a two-year walk-on from Knoxville – has appeared in 39 career games, including 17 this season. She has been a Lady Vol Scholar, earning Easton and NFCA Scholar-Athlete recognition and SEC Academic Honor Roll distinction.
Rogers – a fifth-year player from Athens, Tennessee – will also be recognized for her immense contributions to Tennessee softball.
SCORING PARTY
UT leads the SEC and ranks third nationally in scoring, averaging 7.39 runs per game. Tennessee has scored five or more runs 33 times this season and has scored double-digit runs 13 times – including in five of its last 11 games.
PREVENTING BIG INNINGS
While the Lady Vols have been putting up big numbers on the scoreboard, their pitching staff has been excellent at liming big innings for its opponents. The Lady Vols have allowed three or more runs in only five out of 295 innings pitched this season.
CHASING HISTORY
Kiki Milloy is chasing down history as she is tied with Annie Aldrete and Lauren Gibson for the single-season home run record. Her next home run would be No. 20 on the year and would set a new single-season program record.
The senior has hit 50 homers in four seasons and is one away from tying Tonya Callahan for second in Lady Vol history. Milloy is just seven home runs shy of tying Meghan Gregg for No. 1 all-time in UT history.
SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
Head Coach (Record at South Carolina): Beverly Smith (418-294)
2023 Record: 33-17 (8-13 SEC)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 41-22
Last Meeting: W, 4-2, on 4/19/2021 in Columbia
Key Stat: The Gamecocks have eight wins over teams currently in the RPI top-25 (all of which were ranked in the top-25 of the NFCA coaches' poll at the time), LSU, Florida (twice), Alabama, Texas A&M (three), and Auburn. The 20 games again top-25 RPI teams are the fifth most, which is more than every team in the NFCA Top-10 except Tennessee (23).
UP NEXT
Tennessee heads back to Fayetteville, Arkansas, May 9-13 for the 2023 SEC Tournament.
Tennessee (39-7, 17-4 SEC) is looking to bounce back from dropping its first SEC series since April 30-May 2, 2022. The Lady Vols had won seven consecutive series dating to last season.
BROADCAST INFO
Friday and Saturday's games will be televised on SEC Network with Tiffany Greene (play-by-play) and Erin Miller (analyst) describing the action. Sunday's contest will air on SEC Network+ with Roger Hoover (play-by-play) and Michelle LeCourse (analyst) on the call.
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 No. 4 in all four major polls – Softball America, D1Softball, USA Softball and NFCA. It sits at No. 11 in the most recent NCAA RPI rankings.
SENIOR DAY
On Saturday, UT will recognize two graduating Lady Vols – Shakara Goodloe and Ashley Rogers. Goodloe – a two-year walk-on from Knoxville – has appeared in 39 career games, including 17 this season. She has been a Lady Vol Scholar, earning Easton and NFCA Scholar-Athlete recognition and SEC Academic Honor Roll distinction.
Rogers – a fifth-year player from Athens, Tennessee – will also be recognized for her immense contributions to Tennessee softball.
SCORING PARTY
UT leads the SEC and ranks third nationally in scoring, averaging 7.39 runs per game. Tennessee has scored five or more runs 33 times this season and has scored double-digit runs 13 times – including in five of its last 11 games.
PREVENTING BIG INNINGS
While the Lady Vols have been putting up big numbers on the scoreboard, their pitching staff has been excellent at liming big innings for its opponents. The Lady Vols have allowed three or more runs in only five out of 295 innings pitched this season.
CHASING HISTORY
Kiki Milloy is chasing down history as she is tied with Annie Aldrete and Lauren Gibson for the single-season home run record. Her next home run would be No. 20 on the year and would set a new single-season program record.
The senior has hit 50 homers in four seasons and is one away from tying Tonya Callahan for second in Lady Vol history. Milloy is just seven home runs shy of tying Meghan Gregg for No. 1 all-time in UT history.
SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
Head Coach (Record at South Carolina): Beverly Smith (418-294)
2023 Record: 33-17 (8-13 SEC)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 41-22
Last Meeting: W, 4-2, on 4/19/2021 in Columbia
Key Stat: The Gamecocks have eight wins over teams currently in the RPI top-25 (all of which were ranked in the top-25 of the NFCA coaches' poll at the time), LSU, Florida (twice), Alabama, Texas A&M (three), and Auburn. The 20 games again top-25 RPI teams are the fifth most, which is more than every team in the NFCA Top-10 except Tennessee (23).
UP NEXT
Tennessee heads back to Fayetteville, Arkansas, May 9-13 for the 2023 SEC Tournament.
Players Mentioned
SB | Tennessee Postgame vs. Nebraska (5.25.25)
Sunday, May 25
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)
Sunday, May 18
