KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 15th-ranked Tennessee softball team fell, 7-4, to No. 16 Missouri Saturday afternoon at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

In a reverse of Friday’s game, it was Missouri (36-14, 14-9 SEC) who jumped out to an early three-run lead as it scored one run in the first and two in the second. The Tigers’ Brooke Wilmes hit a leadoff home run to center to open the scoring and give Mizzou the early lead in the first.

In the second, Missouri used a leadoff single and a walk to put runners on for Emma Raabe who singled to right to score Imani Myint for the Tigers second run of the day. In the next at-bat, Hannah McGivern scored on a sacrifice fly from Kendyll Bailey.

After a quiet third and fourth innings, Missouri scored four times in the fifth on three hits and an error. With one away and two runners on, Hatti Moore hit a three-run home run to center to give Missouri a 6-0 lead.

Later in the inning, Kim Wert hit a solo home run to left center to score Mizzou’s seventh run of the game.

Tennessee (39-11, 12-10 SEC) fought back in the bottom half of the fifth as Kiki Milloy crushed a two-run blast over the wall in center to cut into the Missouri lead.

With two away and runners on first and second, the Lady Vols made a late push as they scored a pair of runs in the seventh. Amanda Ayala picked up her third hit of the day as she roped an RBI single to right, scoring Kaitlin Parsons.

Ashley Morgan then doubled down the left field line to drive home Milloy for UT’s fourth run of the game and to create the game’s final margin at, 7-4.

Callie Turner started for the Orange & White Saturday, tossing three innings and allowing three runs on three hits. Turner suffered the loss and is now 10-3 on the year. UT also used Samantha Bender and Bailey McCachren out of the bullpen.

Bender threw 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits. McCachren tossed just 0.2 innings, giving up one run.

For Missouri, Laurin Krings got the start and pitched 6.2 innings, surrendering three runs on five hits, walking three and striking out three. Emma Nichols threw in relief for 0.1 innings, giving up one run on three hits.

Krings picked up the win and improved to 9-3 this season.

UP NEXT
Tennessee and Missouri will face off Sunday in a rubber match, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. The game can be streamed on SEC Network+.

Box Score | Overall Stats | SEC Stats | UT vs. Missouri Series Stats

-UT Athletics