After a disappointing Friday night loss, Tennessee softball defeated Mississippi State, 6-1, to even the series on Saturday.
The No. 4 Lady Vols (31-7, 11-3 SEC) had an 11-hit day to force a series-deciding game with the No. 16 Bulldogs (29-11, 9-8) on Sunday. Tennessee starting pitcher Payton Gottshall pitched all seven innings and only allowed three hits in a dominant performance.
“We really put our pride on the line today,” Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly said. “We came out with a determination and attention to detail. In this game, we swung well in the beginning and at the end. We had a few at-bats we missed in the middle, and that is what we have to keep working on. By no means are we satisfied, but we are moving in the right direction.”
The Lady Vols opened up their offense in the first inning with a double by Rylie West to left field that brought McKenna Gibson home. Sophia Nugent then blasted a home run over the left field wall to give Tennessee a three-run advantage.
The Bulldogs were able to get one single, but Gottshall got two strikeouts and a flyout to keep Mississippi State off the board in the first inning. The second inning was uneventful for both teams. Tennessee was able to pick up one single from Kiki Milloy before grounding out to end the inning. The Bulldogs were unable to pick up a hit and went down in order as Tennessee still led, 3-0.
Tennessee did not get anything going in the third inning either, as they were sent back to the dugout after a double play from the Bulldogs. Gottshall continued her stellar day on the mound and struck out the Bulldogs’ next three batters to end the third inning.
Mississippi State tried to get something going in the fourth, as Tennessee only managed one hit before another double play spoiled any chances at adding more runs. Jessie Blaine got the Bulldogs on the board with a solo home run out of left field, and Tennessee’s lead was cut to 3-1.
Tennessee then undid any progress that Mississippi State had made. Milloy reached first on a fielding error and then scored after Zaida Puni hit an RBI single to put the Lady Vols up, 4-1. The Bulldogs were able to manage one hit in the fifth but did not score.
The Lady Vols could not add any runs in the sixth inning, but the Bulldogs did nothing in response.
Tennessee got the insurance it wanted with a Gibson homer to center field that also brought home Milloy, and the Lady Vols led 6-1. That would end up being the final score after the Bulldogs could not get a rally going in the seventh.
“We are not resting on what we did today,” Weekly said. “We are not saying we are back because we are not back by any means. We have to earn the right to be confident every day. We earn it with all the little things we do before we ever get to the field.”
