KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After rain washed away the Lady Vol Challenge, the No. 21 Tennessee softball team returns to action with a pair of early week doubleheaders with Furman and Liberty on Monday and Tuesday afternoon from Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
BROADCAST INFO
All four of Tennessee’s games can be seen on SEC Network+. Fans can stream SEC Network+ on any mobile device through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch.
The Lady Vols’ contests can also be heard on your local Vol Network affiliate or online at UTsports.com. VFL Brian Rice will have the call.
QUICK HITS
MID-WEEK DOMINATION
Thus far, Tennessee has compiled a 5-0 record in mid-week contests in 2021, outscoring opponents 43-1. In those five games, the Lady Vol pitching staff has yielded just eight hits, while giving up one or no hits in three of those games.
DAVIS DRIVES IN SEASON HIGH
In game one of Wednesday’s doubleheader against Kennesaw State, senior Ivy Davis went 2-for-3 at the dish with a season-high five RBIs. Three of those runs came on a three-run blast to left to put UT up 4-1 in the afternoon’s opening inning.
The Huntington Beach, California native currently leads UT with 28 runs batted in and ranks second with 14 extra-base-hits (nine home runs and five doubles).
THAT PITCHING BY COMMITTEE THING CONTINUES
The Tennessee pitching staff, along with its three no-hitters, boasts a 1.51 team era and has given up either one or zero runs 15 times this season.
All four pitchers to have made at least one start have tossed at least one complete game shutout this year (Ashley Rogers, Callie Turner, Samantha Bender, Bailey McCachren).
SCOUTING REPORT
FURMAN
2021 Record: 6-12, 0-0 SoCon
Series Record: Tennessee leads 10-0
Last Outing: A 9-0 demolition by Tennessee on April 20, 2016
Key Player/Stat: Furman is led by junior Mackense Greico. Greico is batting a team-leading .313 at the plate with seven extra-base-hits and has batted in a team-leading 14 runs. Greico also leads the team in both slugging and on-base percentage with marks of .583 and .424 respectively.
LIBERTY
2021 Record: 21-9, 3-0 ASUN
Series Record: Tennessee leads 19-0
Last Outing: A 1-0 Tennessee victory on March 19, 2019 in Lynchburg
Key Player/Stat: Liberty will arrive in Knoxville following a three-game series in Nashville with ASUN foe, Lipscomb on Sunday and Monday. The Flames are led on offense Kara Canetto and Amber Bishop. Canetto is peppering opposing pitching with a .396 batting average, 23 runs scored, seven extra-base-hits and 18 RBI. Bishop is second on the team in average, hitting .389 while leading the team with 26 RBI and 24 runs scored.
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols return to action with their second SEC home series when they welcome Kentucky to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium April 2-4. All three contests can be seen on national television with Friday and Sunday’s games airing on ESPNU and Saturday’s game can be seen on ESPN2.
-UT Athletics
