By Sawyer Hunley
The Lady Vols played their second game in just as many nights as they took on the Kennesaw State Owls on Wednesday night in Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in what was the last game of a long home stand.
They used a huge offensive night to push past the Owls by a final score of 13-5.
The last two nights have been somewhat of a different way of winning for the Lady Vols, as they have truly struggled offensively over the last three weeks, as they only averaged around three runs per game in that span.
Yet, in the last two nights, they have scored twenty-seven runs combined.
It always seems to be a different hitter that truly stands out for the Lady Vols, and tonight it was freshman Taelyn Holley.
Holley had four hits in four at-bats, all of which were doubles, while also recording four RBI’s in the game.
The Murrieta, California native has been in a slump over the last few weeks, but tonight she righted that wrong.
“She’s a really good hitter first of all, and when hitters go in slumps, it’s just how you manage them,” said head coach Karen Weekly
The Lady Vols will need Holley to keep this type of production up if they want to continue to be able to push runs across the plate at a high rate.
While the offense was incredible, the Lady Vols’ pitching deserves some love as well.
Sophomore Erin Nuwer took the ball in the circle first and did not disappoint.
Nuwer recorded nine strikeouts in the game while she did not walk any batters.
It was a bit of a rough start for Nuwer as she gave up a double in the top of the first inning, followed by two wild pitches that ended up as a run for Kennesaw State.
She did not let that first inning define her night, as she only gave up one more hit for the rest of her night.
“When she trusts her stuff and just lets it go, she’s good,” said Weekly postgame.
It is truly imperative that Nuwer continues to give this kind of production to the team.
To make a deep postseason run, teams need a deep bullpen, and Nuwer performing at a high level provides that for the Lady Vols.
The Lady Vols will now focus back on SEC play as they head to Lexington, Kentucky, this weekend to take on the Kentucky Wildcats in a three-game series.
Game one is slated for Saturday at 1:00 PM ET, with game two and game three to follow on Sunday and Monday.