By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Early offense was the story as the Tennessee Tech softball team and No. 15 Tennessee combined for the game's seven runs in the first two innings, but for the Golden Eagles (17-14, 4-3) found themselves on the opposite end of most of the fireworks.
The Volunteers (23-7) plated six in the first two innings en route to a 6-1 win for the club's third consecutive victory.
Tech did jump out to fast start with a run in the top of the first, using an Alyssa Richards sacrifice fly to bring home senior Angi Sakamoto to christen the scoring. Sakamoto began the contest in promising fashion after slashing a 2-2 pitch down the right field line for a leadoff double, before the Waipahu, Hawaii native advanced to third on a Gretchen Aucoin wild pitch.
Senior Hannah Eldridge then worked a walk to put runners on the corners, before Richards gave the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead two batters later on a fly ball to center.
UT responded to the early deficit, doing so quite rapidly, as the Vols posted a four-spot a mere four batters into the home half of the first. Junior Rainey Gaffin led off the frame with a single up the middle, which was promptly followed by a Megan Geer walk to put runners on first and second with no one out.
Freshman Meghan Gregg then squared up the tilt with a run-scoring double, before sophomore Annie Aldrete provided the game's biggest knock, a go-ahead three-run home run to left field to push Tennessee to a 4-1 advantage.
An inning later, a few of the aforementioned Vols were at it again, starting with a Megan Geer single to left to kick off a two-out rally. Meghan Gregg wasted no time on the next Hannah Weaver offering, clubbing a triple into right center to bring Geer around, before Gregg herself dented home right after on a wild pitch to push the UT lead to 6-1.
Not to be lost in the all the action was the outstanding performance in relief by Golden Eagle senior Taylor Kethcum, who served as Tech's largest bright spot after coming out of the bullpen in the second. Making her season debut, the Newcastle, Okla. native surrendered just one measly hit, blanking the Vols in four and one-third innings of work.
Hannah Weaver was hit with the loss after allowing the six Vol runs to move her record to 6-6, while senior Cheyanne Tarango recorded the win to even up her record at 1-1 thanks to two and two-thirds scoreless in relief.
The Golden Eagles will now return to their OVC slate, welcoming in Belmont for a three-game series at Tech Softball Field over the weekend. Please not a change to the schedule as Saturday's original doubleheader has been moved to a single-game beginning at 2 p.m. CT, with Sunday changing from a single-game to a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
Admission to all Golden Eagle home regular season games is free.
