University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
5-3
Oklahoma State
2-4
Vols Bounce Back with Dominant Win Over OSU
February 19, 2016 | Softball
Box Score | Geathers Postgame |
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Vols wasted no time bouncing back from a tough loss earlier in the day, powering past Oklahoma State with a 14-4 run-rule victory on Friday afternoon in Clearwater.
Shaliyah Geathers paced No. 12/14 Tennessee at the plate, posting career highs with four hits and four RBIs while also scoring two runs. The junior from Chattanooga, Tenn., was one of seven players to drive in a run for the Vols in the game.
It was Geathers who got the scoring started, coming through with a 2-out single in the top of the first to give UT an early 1-0 lead. Aubrey Leach scored from second on the play after singling earlier in the inning.
OSU tied things up at one in the bottom of the second thanks to a sac fly by Darcy Taylor after Madi Sue Montgomery led off the inning with a triple to right field.
The Big Orange opened things up in the top of the third, scoring five runs on four hits and two OSU errors. Two runs came across on a Meghan Gregg single to center field to start the scoring in the inning. Gregg came around to score on Geathers' second RBI single of the game and Abby Lockman plated two runs with a single to left field to cap off the scoring and spot the Vols a 6-1 lead.
The Cowgirls battled back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning. UT starter Erin Gabriel surrendered a walk and a single to start the frame before Maddie Holcomb singled home a run and Vanessa Shippy followed with a 2-run double to cut the Tennessee lead to just two runs heading into the fifth.
The Vols were unfazed, however, as they exploded for eight runs in the fifth to take a 14-4 lead and put the game away. Lexi Overstreet, Gretchen Aucoin, Megan Geer, Leach and Geathers all posted RBIs in the 8-run outburst.
Gabriel retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth, completing her fourth consecutive complete game to begin the season. The junior right-hander gave up four runs but also recorded seven strikeouts to earn the win and improve to 3-1 on the year.
After splitting today's doubleheader, Tennessee will be back in action with two more games tomorrow as they take on Fordham at 12:15 p.m. and South Florida at 5 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gabriel, Erin (3-1)
L: Needham, Brandi (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Geathers, Shaliyah 1 ; Overstreet, Lexi 1 ; Lockman, Abby 1
RBI: Geer, Megan 1 ; Leach, Aubrey 1 ; Gregg, Meghan 2 ; Geathers, Shaliyah 4 ; Overstreet, Lexi 1 ; Lockman, Abby 2 ; Aucoin, Gretchen 1
SH: Geer, Megan 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Geer, Megan 1 ; Leach, Aubrey 3 ; Gregg, Meghan 2 ; Geathers, Shaliyah 2 ; Overstreet, Lexi 2 ; Lockman, Abby 1 ; McSwain, Scarlet 1 ; Vines, Brooke 2
HBP: Geer, Megan 1
Batting:
2B: Shippy, Vanessa 1
3B: Madi Sue Montgomery 1
RBI: Shippy, Vanessa 2 ; Taylor, Darcy 1 ; Holcomb, Maddie 1
SF: Taylor, Darcy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: O'Donnell, Randee 1 ; Madi Sue Montgomery 2 ; Holcomb, Maddie 1
HBP: Red Reasnor 1
