Sami Fagan was a perfect 12-for-12 on stolen bases when she tried to swipe another one in the top of the sixth of the Lady Vols softball series finale with Missouri on Sunday. When Fagan tried stealing for the 13th time, catcher Annie Aldrete threw a rocket to second to stop Fagan in her tracks.
After Aldrete thwarted Fagan’s attempt, Missouri’s momentum went south. The Tigers went from having nine hits in the first five innings to only three in the final two innings, ending Missouri’s attempt at another comeback win as the Lady Vols went on to win the game 10-7.
After the game, Aldrete admitted she didn’t even know she had stopped Fagan’s streak.
“It’s a big momentum changer,” Aldrete said. “Every single batter up there, you feel them. You know they’re going to attack every single pitch, so for us to get the runner out, that’s just a huge momentum changer.”
The Lady Vols’ offense was explosive for the first three innings. Shaliyah Geathers and Aldrete knocked in two runs each in the bottom of the second inning, helping to pave the way for the Lady Vols 9-3 lead after three innings of play.
However, the Tigers wouldn’t go away. Missouri’s veteran leadership shined in the top of the fifth when they put up four runs to cut the lead to two.
The Lady Vols would add an extra run for insurance in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a solo blast by Megan Geer. Tennessee was up 10-7 heading into the top of the sixth inning, and, thanks to clutch pitching by Erin Gabriel in the final two frames, Tennessee would secure the victory and the 2-1 series win over the Tigers.
Many were curious to see how the team responded after the Tigers (20-5, 4-2 SEC) came back from an 8-3 hole on Saturday night. In that game, Missouri scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning to help boost them to a 9-8 victory over the Lady Vols.
“The kids held on, but Missouri’s a great team. No question,”co-head coach Ralph Weekly said. “(They) had three seniors and three redshirt juniors to go against our freshmen and sophomores. It was a real challenge … It was almost like this (today) was scripted like yesterday, but this time we were able to hold on.”
Gretchen Aucoin would pick up the win for the Lady Vols and allowed six runs (all earned) on six hits. Erin Gabriel would go on to pick up her first career save, throwing 2.1 innings and allowing four hits.
“Our team, defensively, offensively and pitching, we were all strong today,” Gabriel said. “We held ourselves together and played as a team.”
With their first SEC home series in the books, the Lady Vols (21-7, 3-3 SEC) will turn their attention to two in-state rivals, East Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech, before Georgia comes to town next weekend.
Weekly doesn’t want his team thinking they can blow by their in-state foes without a fight.
“(I think) They’ll both be tough. I really, really do,” Weekly said. “East Tennessee is much improved. They have a positive record at this point right now, and Tennessee Tech has always been a knock-down, drag-out for us.”
The Lady Vols will play East Tennessee State on Tuesday and Tennessee Tech on Wednesday. Both games are scheduled for 6 p.m. at home.
Next weekend, the Lady Vols welcome SEC-East rival Georgia to town with a three game series beginning on Saturday at 3 p.m.
