In Friday’s game, Texas’ great pitching helped guide the team to a victory, however, on Saturday it was Tennessee’s pitching that shut down the Texas offense. No. 1 Texas had its first taste of conference defeat at home, dropping the second game of the series 3-1, while the No. 7 Volunteers even up the series.
Only seeing one inning of action in Friday’s matchup, Tennessee’s star pitcher junior Karlyn Pickens took the start in the circle once more. And unlike in game one, Pickens would pitch the entirety of the second game, stringing together an eight-strikeout performance while giving up just four hits and one earned run.
“Great pitching beats great hitting,” head coach Mike White said. “Always has in this game and when you face a pitcher like that it’s tough. … Unfortunately, we couldn’t quite get the right break”
After getting shut out in Friday’s game, the Lady Volunteers put together their first two runs in the series. A no-doubt two-run home run shot off the bat of senior infielder McKenna Gibson, gave the Lady Vols the early lead in the first inning.
Junior pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez replaced senior Mac Morgan in the circle after Morgan gave up a walk in the top of the third. Morgan concluded her short day with two earned runs and surrendering three walks. Gutierrez was able to come in and steady the game pitching the final 4.1 innings, and getting three strikeouts while giving up one run.
“I think (Gutierrez) did an outstanding job for us coming in,” White said “and stemming the tide right there and (shutting) them down.”
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Texas chipped away at the Volunteer lead. A base hit knocked up the middle from senior catcher Katie Cimusz brought home graduate student infielder Joley Mitchell.
Texas had the chance to turn the game around in the fourth with bases loaded at two outs. With sophomore infielder Victoria Hunter coming in to pinch-hit for junior utility player Kaydee Bennett. Hunter would step in and ground out towards second base.
Texas looked to start up another rally in the fifth inning beginning with a walk from sophomore outfielder Kayden Henry that looked promising. With senior utility player Mia Scott up to bat, Henry stole second base, and after a wild throw from the catcher Henry advanced safely into third. However, after a challenge from Tennessee’s head coach Karen Weekly, the umpires overturned the play as it was determined that Henry left first base early. Henry was called out and Texas’ tying run was erased.
Pickens shut the door on Texas in the final two frames as the final two innings of the game went by quietly for the Longhorns. They struck out three times and were not able to put a ball in play the rest of the game.
Texas’ loss to the Volunteers sets up a Sunday rubber match to decide the series winner, with the first pitch for the final game of the series scheduled for noon.
