Tennessee softball finally got its hitting going as it defeated Kentucky, 8-3.
The No. 3 Lady Vols (38-9, 17-5 SEC) got past the No. 24 Wildcats (30-19, 8-14) with a strong hitting performance, scoring the most runs in a conference game since March 30 against Auburn.
Even though Tennessee struggled early, it was able to bring itself together and finish strong.
“You have to learn from the struggle but then let it go so you can have a free swing the next time up,” Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly said. “I’m really, really proud of our offense for just getting better as the game went along.”
Here are three takeaways from the win.
Gottshall’s relief appearance gets the job done
Payton Gottshall entered facing pressure. Kentucky had just tied the game and were looking to take the lead.
She let two runners on but didn’t allow the Wildcats to take the lead. In the sixth inning, she sent Kentucky down in order. She allowed one runner on in the seventh inning but finished off the game.
When the moment is greater, Gottshall always rises to the occasion.
“Payton gets better with pressure,” Weekly said. “Sometimes, early in the game, if the game isn’t giving her some pressure, she’ll kind of go into cruise control. … She’s just going to be better the bigger that moment is.”
Gottshall’s energy doesn’t just help herself. She can transfer that to her teammates on the field and in the dugout, driving them to a win.
When she entered a pressure-filled situation Thursday, she did what she always does.
“It’s today, but it’s every day and it’s also in practice,” Tennessee outfielder Rylie West said. “It just fires everyone up, and it’s so contagious.”
Late home runs give Lady Vols the lead
Tennessee took the lead with two home runs in the fifth inning. First, West sent the first pitch she saw out of the park. Sophia Nugent followed with a home run to right field, giving the Lady Vols a two-run advantage.
In the sixth inning, Taylor Pannell drilled a three-run homer over the right-field wall, putting the Lady Vols in control of the game.
“I think we honestly just needed to swing freely,” West said. “It took two games to do that, sadly, but we were able to do it and just go for it. And when we go for it, this team can be unstoppable.”
After struggling offensively, Tennessee’s offense rebounded into a strong performance at home — one it will look to carry through the rest of the series.
SEC title within reach
With a win on Friday, the Lady Vols would clinch a share of the SEC regular season championship, while a series sweep would clinch the solo title. Tennessee will face some pressure, but it must be able to harness that, both now and in the postseason.
“We’re where we are because we put ourselves there,” Weekly said. “We should really embrace the fact that most teams in the country right now this weekend are not playing for a conference championship.”
One win over the next two games would give the Lady Vols at least a share of the SEC Championship, and a win Friday along with a loss by Texas A&M would guarantee the solo league title.
Tennessee knows that a regular season championship is by no means the last goal. Next, the Lady Vols will head to the SEC Tournament and then to the NCAA Tournament. The pressure will continue to increase, and the Lady Vols need to learn how to thrive in that situation.
“You got to go after what you want, and the only way you can go after something is all in, full out,” Weekly said. “When pressure makes you pause and hesitate and get on your heels, that’s when it’s a bad thing.”
