KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A seven-run first inning sparked the No. 8 Lady Vols as they run-ruled No. 11 Missouri, 9-0, Friday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
 
Tennessee (20-4, 1-0 SEC) opened SEC action in style with its ninth run-rule victory and 11th shutout of the season. The Lady Vols also extended their win streak to 12.
 
Already leading 3-0 in the first, senior Giulia Koutsoyanopulos broke the game open with a grand slam to straightaway center field – putting UT up 7-0 after one. The home run was her second of the season and marked Tennessee’s fourth grand slam of the year.
 
Sophomore Taylor Pannell was 2-for-3 on the night with an RBI single in the second to put Tennessee in run-rule territory.
 
In the third, true freshman Bella Faw hit her first career home run to give Tennessee its 9-0 final score.
 
The Lady Vols finished with 10 hits on the night, led by Pannell and Kiki Milloy who each had two. Milloy knocked two doubles, while both of Pannell’s were singles.
 
Sophomore Karlyn Pickens got the ball for Tennessee and tossed her eighth complete game and seventh shutout of the season. The right-hander two-hit the Tigers with five strikeouts and two walks.
 
The reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week is now 11-2 on the year.
 
Missouri (22-4, 2-2 SEC) started Laurin Krings in the circle. She surrendered nine runs – seven earned – on 10 hits over 2.1 innings of work. Krings is 8-4 after suffering the loss Friday night.
 
Nathalie Touchet relieved Krings in the third and pitched the final 1.2 innings. She faced five batters and held the Lady Vols hitless.
 
Both of Mizzou’s hits were doubles off the bat Julia Crenshaw in the first inning and Kara Daly in the fourth.
 
STAT OF THE DAY
Over her last 39 innings, Karlyn Pickens has not allowed a run. The righty has also struck out 47 batters, walked only eight and has given up just 12 hits in that span.
 
UP NEXT
Tennessee and Missouri are back on the diamond Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. The game can be streamed on the WatchESPN app or through SECN+. Voice of the Lady Vols Brian Rice will host an audio broadcast on AM990.