MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Tennessee plated four runs in the first inning and went on to score five more in the third in an eventual five-inning, 11-1 victory over UIC on Day 2 of the Kickin’ Chicken Classic.
Highlighted by Amanda Ayala’s three-run homer in the third and Ally Shipman’s two-RBI single in the fifth, the Lady Vols put up double digits against UIC for the second time this weekend.
Matty Moss earned the win, throwing nine strikeouts while allowing just one run on six hits through 5.0 innings of work. She picked up the save in Friday night’s victory over Coastal Carolina.
Haley Bearden brought in UT’s first run of the night on an RBI-walk in the leadoff frame. In the next at-bat, Kaili Phillips hit a fielder’s choice to shortstop that scored Jenna Holcomb. Bearden and Phillips then scored on a single and another bases-loaded walk, respectively.
UIC plated its lone run in the second as Alyssa Griman hit a solo shot over the left field wall.
The Lady Vols scratched five more runs across in the third inning as UT’s first five batters all reached base and scored. Ayala had the big hit of the night as she homered over the right-center wall with two runners on. Ashley Morgan and Kaitlin Parsons also found their way home as Morgan scored on Chelsea Seggern’s single to right and Parsons stole home in a delayed double steal play.
In the top of the fifth, Tennessee scored its final two runs of the game. The Orange and White loaded the bases to start the frame with both Aubrey Leach and Parsons scoring on Shipman’s single to center field.
-UT Athletics
