Vols Extend In-State Win Streak to 86 Straight Games

Tuesday, March 29

Nashville, Tenn.

6:00 PM

University of Tennessee

26-8

Lipscomb

18-16

Tennessee

Lipscomb

March 29, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

March 29, 2016

Box Score | Ralph Weekly Postgame |

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- No. 17/16 Tennessee extended its winning streak over in-state opponents to 86 straight games with a 7-1 victory at Lipscomb on Tuesday night at Smith Field in Nashville.

Meghan Gregg led the Volunteers at the plate with a run and four RBIs while Brooke Vines also had another solid game, going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and an RBI. UT came up with clutch hits for the second straight game, scoring six of its seven runs with two outs.

Erin Gabriel and Rainey Gaffin were both sharp in the pitcher's circle, allowing only one run and four combined hits by the Lady Bisons. Gaffin earned the win to improve to 5-2 on the year after allowing just one hit in four innings of relief while striking out five batters.

Tennessee (26-8) opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the third, all with two outs. Vines singled in the game's first run to extend her hit and RBI streak to four straight games. Two batters later, Lexi Overstreet ripped a double down the left-field line to score Vines and Gregg and give UT a 3-0 lead.

Gregg kept her hot streak going with a bases-clearing double in the top of the fourth to extend the Tennessee lead to six. Gregg has now had a hit in five straight games and is tied for the team lead with 39 RBIs this season. Gaffin and Aubrey Leach led off the inning with back-to-back singles before Megan Geer walked to load the bases with only one out. Gregg took advantage, sending a 2-2 pitch to the gap in right center to score all three baserunners and put the Vols up 6-0.

Lipscomb got a run back in home half of the fourth after an errant throw by Gregg on a double play attempt allowed Abby Fenichel to score from second base. Gaffin entered for Gabriel in relief and was able to limit the damage by stranding a pair of runners on base to end the inning.

The Big Orange regained their six-run advantage with a sacrifice fly by Gregg in the top of the six, scoring Geer who reached on a walk earlier in the inning. It was the fourth run driven in by Gregg on the night, extending her RBI streak to five consecutive games.

Gaffin retired the Lady Bisons (18-16) in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game. Tanner Sanders was the losing pitcher for Lipscomb after giving up three unearned runs in 2.2 innings pitched.

The Vols continue their four-game road swing on Friday when they begin their series at No. 15 Missouri. First pitch for Friday's game is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed on SEC Network + (Online). Fans can listen to the game live on WNML AM 990.