LSU Eliminates UT from SEC Tournament in Extra Innings

Friday, May 13

Starkville, Miss.

3:00 PM

University of Tennessee

41-14

No. 12/13 LSU

45-14

LSU

Tennessee

LSU Eliminates UT from SEC Tournament in Extra Innings

May 13, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

May 13, 2016

Box Score | Highlights |

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- No. 9 Tennessee had its SEC Tournament run ended in extra innings by No. 12 LSU on Friday afternoon in Starkville, Miss.

LSU's leadoff batter Sandra Simmons had the game-winning hit with a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie and give the Tigers a 3-1 victory, avenging their loss to the Vols in last year's SEC Tournament.

Vols' starting pitcher Matty Moss provided Tennessee with another great performance in the circle, giving up only five hits while striking out seven batters in a career-high eight innings pitched.

Moss quickly retired the first two batters of the game but gave up a solo homer to Tigers' home run leader Bianka Bell after that, which spotted LSU an early 1-0 lead. The freshman settled in nicely after that, holding the Tigers scoreless while allowing just two hits in the next six innings.

After failing to score with runners in scoring position in the second and fourth innings, the Big Orange came through in the fifth to tie the game at one. A single by Brooke Vines and a pair of walks from Megan Geer and Lexi Overstreet loaded the bases with two outs for Shaliyah Geathers, who was hit by a pitch to bring in the game-tying run. UT had a chance to take the lead but left the bases loaded to end the inning.

Tennessee had a great chance to win the game after Meghan Gregg doubled to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning. Unfortunately, LSU relief pitcher Carley Hoover got a strikeout and two ground outs to end the threat and send the game to extra innings.

Moss retired the first two batters of the inning but ran into some trouble after that, allowing a single to Emily Griggs before Simmons hammered a two-run homer to dead center. It was the fourth home run of the season for Simmons and put the Tigers up 3-1.

Abby Lockman doubled with one out to give UT some life in the bottom of the eighth, but Hoover retired the next two batters to end the game and earn her third win in as many days.

The Vols fell to 0-2 this season in extra-inning games with the loss. Their only other game that went more than seven innings was their fourth game of the year at Arizona State, a 5-4 loss.

Vines led UT at the plate with a pair of singles while Gregg, Overstreet, Geathers, Lockman and Gretchen Aucoin all had one hit on the afternoon.

Tennessee will now wait for Sunday night's NCAA Selection Show to see where it will be seeded in this year's NCAA Tournament. The Vols are all but assured a spot among the top 16 seeds, which will allow them to host a regional at Lee Stadium in Knoxville next weekend.