KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – An impressive 18 strikeouts in 8.2 innings of work from junior righty, Ashley Rogers and timely runs pushed the No. 16 Tennessee softball team past Tennessee State in Wednesday’s twin bill at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
The Lady Vols (31-6) victories kept them undefeated in their all-time series with Tennessee State (8-24).
Game One Tennessee 2 Tennessee State 1
The Lady Vols pitched by committee in Game one, giving up just one run on four hits, with that run being unearned and coming in the third inning.
Davis led the way at the dish with a pair of hits and a home run in the fourth to give UT a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Tennessee scored the contests opening run when sophomore Kiki Milloy roped her first triple of the season down the right field line and later scored on a groundout by senior Chelsea Seggern. The hit was Milloy’s first extra-base-hit of the season that wasn’t a home run.
Two innings later, TSU responded and knotted things up at 1-1, on an errant throw from third base with a pair of runners on.
In the fourth, Davis blasted one over the wall in left field to give UT its one-run lead back at 2-1.
Rogers came in, in the sixth inning to slam the door, striking out the final six batters to give the Lady Vols win No. 30.
Game Two Tennessee 3 Tennessee State 0
Rogers was nothing short of dominant in game two, pitching 6.2 shutout innings, while giving up just one hit, one walk and striking out 12 batters.
Her performance was her eighth double-digit strikeout performance of the season, while the win upped her season-long record to 18-4.
Milloy led the way at the plate for the Orange & White, slapping a hit in both plate appearances and scoring the would-be winning run in the first inning.
The Lady Vols stormed out of the gates in game two, piling on a trio of runs in the opening inning.
Milloy started things off by scoring on a throwing error after stealing third base. A few batters later, graduate student Cailin Hannon scored on a Sac fly to center, before freshman Rylie West crossed the plate on a fielders’ choice to give UT an early 3-0 lead.
Despite not scoring the rest of the way, Rogers was electric in the circle to finish off the combined shutout and the doubleheader sweep.
UP NEXT
Tennessee returns to SEC play with a three-game set at South Carolina April 17-19 in Columbia. Game one is set for Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score | Updated Overall Stats | Karen Weekly Postgame
-UT Athletics
