Run-Rule Virginia Lady Vols, Proceed to the Regional Final
At Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, the third-seeded Lady Vols defeated Virginia 12-0 in the third game of the Knoxville Regional thanks to four home runs. The winner of game five will face Tennessee (42-10) in the regional final on Sunday. In the bottom of the first inning, Kiki Milloy and Taylor Pannell hit back-to-back home runs to ignite the offense. With two RBIs apiece, the two contributed four of Tennessee’s eleven hits collectively. Pannell crossed the plate twice and scored two runs, while Milloy scored three.
A sacrifice fly by Rylie West and an RBI single by McKenna Gibson gave the Lady Vols five runs in the second inning. That allowed Sophia Nugent to set the setup for a two-run home drive that made the score 7-0. Gibson was steady throughout the entire day, going 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. After Pannell scored Milloy with a double off the wall in center in the third inning, West blasted a three-run home ball to put the game deep into run-rule zone. This was Tennessee’s eighth run of the game. The game’s last run was scored in the home half of the fourth on a Milloy single to right.
With five strikeouts while scattering three hits against the Cavaliers, Payton Gottshall was virtually unhittable. The graduating pitcher won her eighth complete game, third shutout, and 20th victory of the campaign. Abby Weaver, Sarah Coon, and Bella Cabral all scored runs for Virginia (33-19). For UVA, Mikayla Houge got the start in the circle and threw 2.1 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits, three walks, and one strikeout. With 2.1 innings pitched, Courtney Layne gave up six runs on three hits and four walks. The defeat was Houge’s fourth of the year. DAY’S STAT Tennessee surpassed last season’s total of 79 home runs with four home runs on Saturday, bringing their season total to 81.
UT’s victory on Saturday marks its 89th in the NCAA Tournament.
Next up The regional final matchup between the Lady Vols and the victor of game five will take place on Sunday afternoon.
