By Lily Helton
The once undefeated Lady Vols softball team was trailing 0-2 in the series against Ole Miss after two hard-earned losses. They needed a win, and they were tied at zero heading into the third inning.
At the bottom of the third, Elsa Morrison stepped up to bat. She let a couple pass her by, and the pressure was mounting. She stepped back into the box, put bat to ball, and the crowd watched it fly over the left fielder. Then they watched Makenzie Butt, Emma Clarke, and pinch runner McCall Sims reach home plate. The Lady Vols finally had a lead, 3-0.
“It was a good win, it feels good,” says offensive specialist Alannah Leach.
Offensive Improvement
The bats were connecting early for Tennessee today. The lead-off hitter Sophia Knight, Ella Dodge, and Alannah Leach all put bat-to-ball during the first inning. And it didn’t stop there. Emma Clarke and Alannah Leach hit doubles in clutch moments, allowing their teammates to advance to third base.
Ole Miss pitchers Emilee Boyer, Lilly Whitten, and Kyra Aycock struggled to slow the offense down. They allowed eight walks on the day, giving the Lady Vols plenty of chances to score, and that’s exactly what they did.
“Staying with our process is going to be a good thing for us the rest of the way,” said Leach.
Pitching Consistency
The pitching was a high point for the Lady Vols on Saturday, and the trend continued on Sunday. Sophomore Erin Nuwer pitched until the fourth inning, finishing with 71 strikes thrown out of 109 pitches, and only allowed one walk. Karlyn Pickens also allowed only one walk, finishing with six strikeouts, including three in a row at the top of the seventh inning.
Game Finisher
In the sixth inning, right fielder Madi George got the best of Pickens with a deep ball, and the Ole Miss Rebels tied the game at three.
After the big run, Pickens shut out two batters in a row, and the Lady Vols were up to bat. After a strikeout by pinch-hitter Meredith Barnhart and groundouts across all three bases, they were tied going into the seventh inning.
Then, at the bottom of the seventh inning, with bases loaded and a full pitch count, sophomore Saviya Morgan watched the fourth ball pass home plate. She advanced to first and allowed her teammate Emma Clarke to seal the win for the Lady Vols.
“Saviya is a competitor,” said head coach Karen Weekly.
Up Next: The Lady Vols move to 29-5 on the season as they get ready for their next SEC series against South Carolina. With the first game of the series on April 2. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET in Knoxville.
“Every day we come to work, and we have to earn every single pitch,” said Weekly.