KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After the cancellation of Wednesday’s game with Austin Peay, the 22nd-ranked Tennessee softball team returns to action with a three-game SEC opening weekend series with No. 12 LSU. First pitch from Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on Friday is set for 6 p.m. ET and 1 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.
BROADCAST INFO
Fans can stream Friday and Sunday’s matchups on SEC Network+ and Saturday’s game will be offered linearly on SEC Network. Fans can stream all three games on WatchESPN using the ESPN APP or online through espn.com/watch.
The entire series can also be heard on your local Vol Network affiliate and online on UTsports.com. Fans will be able to listen to Brian Rice describing the action.
QUICK HITS
KIKI DOES IN FACT LOVE US
Sophomore outfielder Kiki Milloy is the reigning SEC Player of the Week following a stellar weekend at Texas A&M.
The Woodinville, Washington native went 8-of-13 at the dish, with four homers and eight RBI’s to help lead UT to five wins, with four coming by run-rule.
Coming into Wednesday’s game, Milloy ranks second in the SEC in home runs, with 10 and 12th in RBI’s with 19 through 18 games. She also leads the conference in stolen bases with 12.
DOMINANCE IN THE CIRCLE
In its last 10 games, Tennessee has allowed just four runs, on the backs of stud pitchers Ashley Rogers, Callie Turner and Samantha Bender.
Last week, both Bender and Turner became the first Lady Vol duo to toss no-hitters in the same season since 2012, doing so against Central Michigan and Lamar.
Junior standout, Rogers, currently leads the SEC with 94 strikeouts and ranks seventh in the league with a sparkling, 0.70, earned run average.
DEFENSE WINS
Tennessee leads the SEC in both runs allowed (17) and fielding percentage (.986), while committing just six errors—the fewest in the league—across its 18 games played.
OFFENSE HELPS WITH WINNING TOO
The Lady Vols have exploded at the plate of late, averaging 7.9 runs per game and currently rank third in the SEC in batting average (.358) and second in slugging percentage, hitting ropes at a rate of .674.
The Lady Vols lineup also features seven regular starters hitting above .350 and four batters slugging above .800 through 18 games.
SCOUTING LSU
2021 Record: 13-6 Overall
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 34-27-1
Last Outing: A slim, 1-0, win for Tennessee at the 2018 SEC Tournament in Columbia, Missouri.
Key Player/Stat: LSU arrives in Knoxville after taking two-of-three from No. 7 Texas at home in Baton Rouge. The Tigers have been led by senior outfielder Aliyah Andrews who boasts a .426 batting average with six extra-base-hits and multiple highlight-reel catches in centerfield.
UP NEXT
After this weekend’s slate against LSU, the Lady Vols will return to action with a mid-week home doubleheader with in-state foe, Bellarmine on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch for game one is slated for 2 p.m. ET, with game two set to start at 4:30 p.m. ET.
-UT Athletics
