Puni’s Two Home Runs Power #4 Lady Vols to Series Win Over #16 Mississippi State
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Puni’s Two Home Runs Power #4 Lady Vols to Series Win Over #16 Mississippi State

Posted on April 14, 2024

Game Recap: Softball | April 14, 2024

STARKVILLE, Miss. – With a stellar offensive performance from senior Zaida Puni, the fourth-ranked Lady Vols subdued the No. 16 Bulldogs on Sunday, taking down Mississippi State 7-3 at Nusz Park to clinch the series victory.

Leading Tennessee’s (32-7, 12-3 SEC) offensive efforts, Puni went 3-for-4 at the plate, blasting two balls over the fence and finishing the game with three runs, three hits and three RBI’s.

The Carson, California native now leads the Big Orange with 10 home runs and her performance at the plate marks the sixth time she’s sent two out of the yard in a single game.

Sophomore Taylor Pannell jump-started the Tennessee offense with a longball to left field at the top of the second – her fourth homer of the season – and went 1-for-3 at the plate.

Finishing with a pair of RBIs, a double from senior McKenna Gibson brought Laura Mealer and Kiki Milloy home to put the Lady Vols up 3-0 early in the third.

Mississippi State (29-12, 9-9 SEC) finally cracked the scoresheet in the bottom of the fourth inning when right-fielder Paige Cook cranked a longball over center field – driving in three runs to make the game 5-3.

Junior Sophia Nugent went 1-for-4 on the day with one RBI, batting a single that sent Puni across the plate to finalize the score 7-3 and secure Tennessee’s fifth SEC series win of the year.

Controlling the circle was graduate Payton Gottshall who came in on relief and ended the day with no hits, no runs and six strikeouts to earn her 15th win of the season.

Making the start for Tennessee was sophomore Karlyn Pickens, who scattered three hits, three strikeouts and allowed three runs in her 3.1 innings pitched.

For the Bulldogs, Aspen Wesley made the start and took the loss after giving up four hits and five runs. Wesley tossed two strikeouts and walked one before being relieved by Saturday’s starter Josey Marron.

Marron finished the game yielding two runs and four hits with five strikeouts.

STAT(S) OF THE DAY
Tennessee has now won 13 of its last 14 conference series following its victory over Mississippi State on Sunday to clinch the three-game set.

When leading after four innings, the Lady Vols are 28-0 this season.

UP NEXT
Tennessee is set to host LSU at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in a three-game series beginning on Friday, April 19 at 6 p.m. ET.

ORANGE TOPS WHITE, 21-14, AS VOLS COMPLETE SPRING BALL
Courtesy / UT Athletics

ORANGE TOPS WHITE, 21-14, AS VOLS COMPLETE SPRING BALL

Posted on April 14, 2024

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GeneralApril 13, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The fourth spring of the Josh Heupel era of Tennessee football culminated with Orange topping White, 21-14, in the annual Orange & White Game on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Neyland Stadium.

Capacity was limited to 10,000 fans as the historic venue continues to undergo renovations this offseason. Offense, wearing white uniforms, alternated possessions for orange and white to determine the final score.

Heupel joined men’s basketball head coach Rick Barnes and the 2023-24 SEC champion Vols for Vol Walk prior to the game. Multiple VFLs were on hand for a Homecoming, including Super Bowl champion Trey Smith and current NFL teammates Joshua Dobbs and Jauan Jennings.

“It was a great day just getting our players’ families back here into town, having an opportunity to see them before the game and then obviously afterwards,” Heupel said. “I enjoyed Vol Walk—the opportunity to honor our basketball program and everything that those guys accomplished this past regular season. Great group of guys, too. You look at Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James, what they’ve meant to this program and how selfless those guys were inside of the basketball program. It was awesome to be a part of honoring them today, too.”

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava saw limited action and finished 7-of-9 for 96 yards and one touchdown. Backup quarterback Gaston Moore was 12-of-18 for 184 yards and two touchdowns, while true freshman Jake Merklinger completed 5-of-7 passes for 105 yards and one score.

The defense dominated the first quarter before Dayton Sneed put the White team on the board, hauling in a 13-yard pass from Moore to finish off a nine-play, 60-yard drive. Merklinger, leading the third team offense, tied it for Orange on a 26-yard rushing score with 5:07 to go in the second quarter.

A 28-point second quarter continued when Iamaleava found Nimrod down the far sideline for a 27-yard touchdown pass. Moore responded for the second team offense with one of the big plays of the day as time expired in the first half. The fifth-year senior fired a beautiful pass to true freshman Mike Matthews, who finished off a 63-yard strike to make it a 14 all tie at the half.

Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell II got in on the big-play action when he streaked down the near sideline for a 71-yard bomb from Merklinger with 7:43 left in the third quarter. Brazzell’s touchdown was the final scoring margin for Orange.

“This is the deepest wide receiver pool that we’ve had,” Heupel said. “Now there’s a lot of young guys within our system that still have a lot of growth that we’ve got to make before we get to the opener but really before we get to training camp too. That’s freshmen transfers, young guys inside of our system, but I love the competitiveness of that group. They’ve made plays. Fundamentally they’re getting so much better with releases, the ball not in their hands, how they’re blocking, understanding how to stand and work with second and third level defenders.”

True freshman Edwin Spillman, who enrolled in March, led all defenders with six tackles and one sack. Defensive back Christian Harrison has six tackles and one sack. True freshman safety Boo Carter added three tackles and one tackle for loss. Linebackers Jeremiah Telander notched two sacks, and Caleb Herring, Nathan Robinson and Bryson Eason each collected one sack.

The Vols held out multiple starters out of precaution and allowed all three units to see significant action.

At halftime, Heupel presented awards for the 2023 season to members of the squad in attendance on Saturday. Recipients included: Jacob Warren (Mickey O’Brien Award), Aaron Beasley (Bill Majors Award), Hunter Salmon (Academic Excellence Award), Jaylen McCollough (John Stucky Award) and Ollie Lane (Inky Johnson Spirit of Courage Award).

#4 LADY VOLS EVEN SERIES AT #16 MISSISSIPPI STATE WITH 6-1 VICTORY SATURDAY
Courtesy / UT Athletics

#4 LADY VOLS EVEN SERIES AT #16 MISSISSIPPI STATE WITH 6-1 VICTORY SATURDAY

Posted on April 14, 2024

Game Recap: Softball | April 13, 2024

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The fourth-ranked Lady Vols evened their series against No. 16 Mississippi State on Saturday at Nusz Park, knocking off the Bulldogs 6-1.

Tennessee (31-7, 11-3 SEC) got strong pitching in the circle from graduate Payton Gottshall and strung 11 hits together throughout the game.

Gottshall tossed a complete game, scattering three hits and allowing one run with no walks and seven punchouts. The right-hander was in control all day as she recorded four 1-2-3 innings en route to her 14th victory of the season.

Sophia Nugent and McKenna Gibson supplied the power for the Lady Vols, as each player hit a two-run home run – Nugent in the first inning and Gibson in the seventh. Gibson finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs.

Nugent was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Graduate Kiki Milloy found her groove again, going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs, while Rylie West and Taylor Pannell both finished with two hits on Saturday.

The Lady Vols plated three runs in the first inning as West knocked an RBI double off the wall to score Gibson before Nugent belted her eighth home run of the season with the following at-bat.

Mississippi State (29-11, 9-8 SEC) broke through on the scoreboard in the fourth as Jessie Blaine hit a solo home run to draw within two runs.

Tennessee immediately responded with a run in the fifth as senior Zaida Puni pulled an RBI single through the left side of the infield.

Gibson’s two-run home run in the seventh punctuated the Lady Vols’ win.

Josey Marron got the start for the Bulldogs in the circle, allowing six runs – five earned – on 10 hits. She walked two and notched six strikeouts as she suffered the loss – her sixth this season.

Marron faced two batters in the seventh before being lifted for Delainey Everett. She finished out the frame, giving up just one hit. 

UP NEXT
Tennessee and Mississippi State close out the three-game series on Sunday with a rubber-match first pitch time set for 1 p.m. ET.

Beam Wills #4 Vols to 3-1 Win Over 25 LSU to Secure Series
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Beam Wills #4 Vols to 3-1 Win Over 25 LSU to Secure Series

Posted on April 14, 2024

Game Recap: Baseball | April 13, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 4/4 Tennessee recorded its seventh straight victory against LSU in Knoxville with a hard-fought 3-1 win on Saturday in front of a record crowd of 6,155 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Junior pitcher Drew Beam gave the Vols another quality start and earned the win to improve to 5-1 on the year. The junior righthander had five strikeouts and scattered eight hits but was able to work out of trouble on numerous occasions, giving up just one unearned run in 6.2 innings of work.

With runners on second and third with no outs and the Tigers having already plated a run to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning, Beam buckled down and struck out the next two batters before getting a groundout to escape the jam and limit the damage, giving the Big Orange some important momentum.

LSU starter Luke Holman put forth a great performance of his own, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning before a one-out single by Blake Burke started a rally for the Vols.

Billy Amick followed with a double to left field to put two runners in scoring position before Dylan Dreiling came through with the biggest hit of the night, a two-run single into right-center field on the first pitch he saw from reliever Griffin Herring, to put UT ahead 2-1.

Holman was stuck with the loss despite allowing just two hits in 5.2 innings of work, falling to 6-2 on the year.

Tennessee (29-6, 9-5 SEC) added an extra insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on an Amick opposite field home run off the videoboard, his second long ball of the weekend.

Nate Snead locked down the win with his third save of the year, tossing two shutout frames to cap the night, striking out three and allowing just one hit while lighting up the radar gun.

The Tigers (22-14, 3-11 SEC) outhit the Vols, 9-5, but were limited to just one extra-base hit, a leadoff double by Michael Braswell III in the second inning.

STAT OF THE GAME: Saturday’s attendance of 6,155 was the first in program history over 6,000. Tennessee’s single-game attendance record of 5,086 coming into this season has already been broken 13 times this year.

UP NEXT: The Vols will play for their first SEC series sweep of the season on Sunday afternoon. First pitch for the series finale is slated for 3 p.m. on the SEC Network.

Amick Homers in Return as #4 Vols Take Opener vs. #25 LSU
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Amick Homers in Return as #4 Vols Take Opener vs. #25 LSU

Posted on April 13, 2024

Game Recap: Baseball | April 12, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A strong relief outing from AJ Causey and a pair big home runs by Billy Amick and Dylan Dreiling led No. 4/4 Tennessee to a 6-3 series-opening victory over No. 25/NR LSU on Friday night in front of a record crowd of 5,901 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

In his return to the lineup after missing the last eight games with an appendix issue, Amick wasted no time putting the Vols ahead with a two-run homer into the left-field porches on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the first inning.

Graduate lefty Chris Stamos earned his first start for the Big Orange and got the Vols off to a good start on the mound with 2.2 innings of two-hit ball, striking out three and allowing just one run before handing the ball off to Causey in the top of the third.

The Jacksonville State transfer stranded the bases loaded in that third inning by getting Mac Bingham to strikeout to preserve UT’s one-run lead. Causey was dialed in from there, tossing 4.2 shutout innings with seven strikeouts to earn the win and improve to 6-2 on the year.

Kirby Connell took over for Causey in the eighth, inheriting the bases-loaded and just one out, but got a strikeout and a fly out in consecutive at-bats to get the Vols out of the jam unscathed.

Despite running into a little bit of trouble in the ninth, Connell was able to finish the game off and earn his second save of the year.

A three-run fifth inning proved to be big for the Vols (28-6. 8-5 SEC), as they were able to take advantage of two LSU errors before Dreiling hit his 13th home run of the season to put an exclamation point on the inning and extend Tennessee’s lead to 6-1 heading into the sixth.

Christian Moore and Blake Burke both had two hits apiece and combined to score three runs at the top of the order. With his pair of singles, Burke extended his hitting streak to 24 straight games, which is now tied for the third longest in program history and three shy of tying Condredge Holloway’s program-record 27-game hit streak.

Tigers’ starter Gage Jump allowed five earned runs on five hits and four walks in four innings to suffer his first loss of the year. Tommy White led the LSU (22-13, 3-10 SEC) offense with three hits and a pair of RBIs.

STAT OF THE GAME: With his relief outing on Friday night, Connell surpassed former teammate and Vol reliever Redmond Walsh for the most appearances in UT history with 105.

UP NEXT: The Vols and Tigers square off in game two of the series on Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m. on the SEC Network.

#4 Tennessee Falls 9-1 Friday Night in Starkville
Courtesy / UT Athletics

#4 Tennessee Falls 9-1 Friday Night in Starkville

Posted on April 13, 2024

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The fourth-ranked Lady Vols fell 9-1 Friday night at Nusz Park to No. 16 Mississippi State in five innings.
 
MSU (29-10, 9-7 SEC) strung back-to-back three-run innings together in the second and third en route to the series-opening win.
 
State scored once in the first and one run in the fourth before adding a final run in the fifth.
 
Tennessee (30-7, 10-3 SEC) opened the game with a run in the first. Graduate Kiki Milloy returned to the lineup after missing all three games last weekend and drew a leadoff walk to open the first frame.
 
After two groundouts advanced Milloy to third, senior Rylie West knocked a single through the left side of the infield to plate Milloy.
 
Aspen Wesley held Tennessee’s bats in check throughout the night, scattering two hits over seven innings of work. The right-hander tossed a complete game with four walks and four strikeouts. Wesley is 11-3 on the year.
 
The Lady Vols started Karlyn Pickens in the circle. She tossed two innings, allowing five runs – four earned – on five hits, a walk and three strikeouts. Pickens suffered the loss – her fourth of the season.
 
Charli Orsini replaced Pickens in the third – allowing two runs – one earned – on two hits. Orsini was lifted to start the fourth inning for Ryleigh White.
 
White finished the game, giving up two runs – one earned – on two hits. The senior walked a pair of batters.
 
UP NEXT
Tennessee and Mississippi State are back for game two of the series on Saturday with a first pitch time of 3:30 p.m. ET. Saturday is All for Alex Day with teams around the SEC wearing teal in remembrance of Alex Wilcox.

Knox County Schools will be Implementing a Realignment Plan which Could Send some Staff to Other Schools

Knox County Schools will be Implementing a Realignment Plan which Could Send some Staff to Other Schools

Posted on April 12, 2024

Knox County Schools is implementing a realignment plan that could affect full-time teacher and staff positions across the school district.

Officials say no one will be out of work and that the budget process has affected those teacher and staff jobs, causing changes.

They say Knox County is growing and the population is shifting so the realignment is to match our resources to student enrollment. KCS’s talent team is working with any of the employees affected by the realignment and say they may be serving a different school community but there will be a spot in KCS.

The district is still early in the realignment process and retirements and resignations could alleviate a lot of the realignment’s goals.

Letter from KCS to employees regarding realignment (courtesy of WVLT)

Knoxville Police are Investigating a Fatal Crash on I-75 in Knox County
TDOT Smartway camera

Knoxville Police are Investigating a Fatal Crash on I-75 in Knox County

Posted on April 11, 2024

Knoxville Police Department crash reconstruction personnel are investigating a fatal crash that happened early Thursday morning in north Knoxville.

At around 5:15 a.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024, KPD officers responded to the ramp from I-640 West to I-75 North in regards to a multi-vehicle crash.

Based on the preliminary investigation at the scene, it is believed that a sedan was traveling from I-640 on to I-75 North when it collided with the rear end of a tractor-trailer. The semi-truck was parked on the right shoulder of I-75 North out of the traffic lanes.

The driver of the sedan was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity is being withheld, pending notification of next of kin.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing at this time.

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Puni’s Two Home Runs Power #4 Lady Vols to Series Win Over #16 Mississippi State
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Puni’s Two Home Runs Power #4 Lady Vols to Series Win Over #16 Mississippi State

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments

Game Recap: Softball | April 14, 2024 STARKVILLE, Miss. – With a stellar offensive performance from senior Zaida Puni, the fourth-ranked Lady Vols subdued the No. 16 Bulldogs on Sunday, taking down Mississippi State 7-3 at Nusz Park to clinch the series victory. Leading Tennessee’s (32-7, 12-3 SEC) offensive efforts, Puni went 3-for-4 at the plate, blasting two…… Continue Reading

ORANGE TOPS WHITE, 21-14, AS VOLS COMPLETE SPRING BALL
Courtesy / UT Athletics

ORANGE TOPS WHITE, 21-14, AS VOLS COMPLETE SPRING BALL

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments

Share: GeneralApril 13, 2024 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The fourth spring of the Josh Heupel era of Tennessee football culminated with Orange topping White, 21-14, in the annual Orange & White Game on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Neyland Stadium. Capacity was limited to 10,000 fans as the historic venue continues to undergo renovations this offseason. Offense, wearing…… Continue Reading

#4 LADY VOLS EVEN SERIES AT #16 MISSISSIPPI STATE WITH 6-1 VICTORY SATURDAY
Courtesy / UT Athletics

#4 LADY VOLS EVEN SERIES AT #16 MISSISSIPPI STATE WITH 6-1 VICTORY SATURDAY

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments

Game Recap: Softball | April 13, 2024 STARKVILLE, Miss. – The fourth-ranked Lady Vols evened their series against No. 16 Mississippi State on Saturday at Nusz Park, knocking off the Bulldogs 6-1. Tennessee (31-7, 11-3 SEC) got strong pitching in the circle from graduate Payton Gottshall and strung 11 hits together throughout the game. Gottshall tossed a complete game,…… Continue Reading

Beam Wills #4 Vols to 3-1 Win Over 25 LSU to Secure Series
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Beam Wills #4 Vols to 3-1 Win Over 25 LSU to Secure Series

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments

Game Recap: Baseball | April 13, 2024 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 4/4 Tennessee recorded its seventh straight victory against LSU in Knoxville with a hard-fought 3-1 win on Saturday in front of a record crowd of 6,155 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Junior pitcher Drew Beam gave the Vols another quality start and earned the win to improve to 5-1…… Continue Reading

Amick Homers in Return as #4 Vols Take Opener vs. #25 LSU
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Amick Homers in Return as #4 Vols Take Opener vs. #25 LSU

Posted on April 13, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments

Game Recap: Baseball | April 12, 2024 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A strong relief outing from AJ Causey and a pair big home runs by Billy Amick and Dylan Dreiling led No. 4/4 Tennessee to a 6-3 series-opening victory over No. 25/NR LSU on Friday night in front of a record crowd of 5,901 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. In his return to the lineup…… Continue Reading

#4 Tennessee Falls 9-1 Friday Night in Starkville
Courtesy / UT Athletics

#4 Tennessee Falls 9-1 Friday Night in Starkville

Posted on April 13, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The fourth-ranked Lady Vols fell 9-1 Friday night at Nusz Park to No. 16 Mississippi State in five innings. MSU (29-10, 9-7 SEC) strung back-to-back three-run innings together in the second and third en route to the series-opening win. State scored once in the first and one run in the fourth before adding a final…… Continue Reading

Knox County Schools will be Implementing a Realignment Plan which Could Send some Staff to Other Schools

Knox County Schools will be Implementing a Realignment Plan which Could Send some Staff to Other Schools

Posted on April 12, 2024 by rcadle • 0 Comments

Knox County Schools is implementing a realignment plan that could affect full-time teacher and staff positions across the school district. Officials say no one will be out of work and that the budget process has affected those teacher and staff jobs, causing changes. They say Knox County is growing and the population is shifting so…… Continue Reading

Knoxville Police are Investigating a Fatal Crash on I-75 in Knox County
TDOT Smartway camera

Knoxville Police are Investigating a Fatal Crash on I-75 in Knox County

Posted on April 11, 2024 by rcadle • 0 Comments

Knoxville Police Department crash reconstruction personnel are investigating a fatal crash that happened early Thursday morning in north Knoxville. At around 5:15 a.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024, KPD officers responded to the ramp from I-640 West to I-75 North in regards to a multi-vehicle crash. Based on the preliminary investigation at the scene, it…… Continue Reading