Geer's Grand Slam Powers Vols Past NC State

Friday, March 31

Knoxville, Tenn.

6:00 PM

University of Tennessee

29-5

NC State

12-22

NC State

Tennessee

March 31, 2017 | Softball

Box Score

March 31, 2017

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Megan Geer hit a grand slam in the first inning and Meghan Gregg moved into tenth all-time on the program RBI record list as No. 19/19 Tennessee defeated NC State, 8-3, Friday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

The Volunteers (29-5) came out swinging with back to back singles followed by a walk to load the bases for Geer. The California native put the Vols on the board with her second-carere grand slam to put UT ahead 4-0 early on.

Nine players recorded a hit for the Vols, who never trailed during the game. Tyler Ross went 2-for-3 with an RBI double for the Wolfpack.

Caylan Arnold earned the win for Tennessee, improving her record to 13-4 this season. The freshman from Maryville went 4.1 innings while recording three strikeouts and yielding three runs. Matty Moss finished the game in relief of Arnold, allowing no runs and striking out two batters in 2.2 innings of work.

NC State (12-22) struck in the third as Jade Caraway drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Brittany Nimmo. Molly Martin scored later in the inning on a wild pitch to trim the UT lead to 4-2.

Gregg's two-run homer in the bottom of the third was her ninth of the season, and was followed by a solo shot from Scarlet McSwain two batters later to increase the UT lead back to five. The two runs driven in by Gregg gave her 160 RBI's for her career.

Ross hit a double to left center in the fifth, which drove in Martin and brought the Wolfpack to within four runs. However, Taylor Rowland punctuated the impressive offensive display for the Vols with an RBI single in the bottom half of the frame, increasing the lead to five again. Moss didn't allow a run over the final two innings as the Big Orange went on to win Game 1 of the weekend series.

Freshman Peyton Silverman started the game in the circle for NC State and gave up eight runs on 10 hits to fall to 8-12 on the year.

SLUGFEST: Tennessee's three home runs on the night tied a season high. UT accomplished the feat during opening weekend on Feb. 12 against UNC Greensboro at the Eagle Round Robin.

GREGG ADDS TO RBI LEAD: With two more RBI's on Friday, junior Meghan Gregg now has 48 on the year, extending her nation leading total.

MOVING ON UP: Meghan Gregg and Megan Geer both made moves up the all-time RBI list. With Geer's four RBIs on Friday night she now has 164 for her career and sits eighth on Tennessee's all-time list. Gregg had two RBIs to push her career total to 160, good for 10th all-time.

UP NEXT: The Vols continue their series with the Wolfpack tomorrow at 4 p.m. Listen live as Brian Rice calls the action on Sports Radio WNML (AM 990) and UTSports.com.