CLEARWATER, Fla. – The third-ranked Lady Vols picked up a pair of wins on Friday at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
In Game 1, Tennessee (7-0) knocked off No. 11 Nebraska 4-0 before out-pacing James Madison in Game 2, 11-0 in the nightcap.
At the plate, Emma Clarke went 3-for-6 on the day with four runs and two doubles. Gabby Leach also had a solid day, going 4-for-9 with a run, two doubles and three RBIs.
In the circle, Erin Nuwer picked up two wins, finished with nine strikeouts and two walks. Nuwer allowed just one hit in five innings of work. Karlyn Pickens tossed three innings on Friday, with four strikeouts, three walks and earned a save against Nebraska.
Peyton Hardenburger started against James Madison. She tossed three frames and recorded two strikeouts. Sage Mardjetko started versus Nebraska and went three innings. She struck out four and walked two.
GAME 1: #3 Tennessee 4, #11 Nebraska 1
Tennessee used a three-run fifth inning and strong relief pitching to defeat Nebraska 4-1 on Friday.
The Huskers struck first in the third. After a leadoff walk and a single put two runners aboard, Farrell lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Coor and give Nebraska a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Vols answered in the fourth. Ella Dodge doubled to left-center and came around to score when Makenzie Butt singled to shortstop, tying the game at 1-1.
Tennessee took control in the fifth. Maddi Rutan led off with a single and moved into scoring position before Gabby Leach delivered a two-run double to left-center, scoring Sophia Knight and Emma Clarke. Moments later, Leach crossed the plate on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 4-1.
In the circle, Tennessee relied on a trio of pitchers. Starter Sage Mardjetko allowed one run in three innings before giving way to Erin Nuwer and then Karlyn Pickens. The bullpen combined to hold Nebraska without a hit over the final four innings.
Nuwer earned the win, while Pickens picked up the save.
Leach paced the offense with a two-run double, while Dodge added a double and scored a run. Tennessee finished with four runs on seven hits and played error-free defense, limiting Nebraska to one run on one hit despite issuing several walks.
GAME 2: #3 Tennessee 11, James Madison 0
Tennessee broke open a scoreless game with a three-run fourth inning and rolled to an 11-0 shutout of James Madison on Friday.
After being held in check through the first three innings, the Lady Vols struck in the fourth. Alannah Leach singled and stole second before Clarke ripped an RBI double down the left-field line to plate the game’s first run. Moments later, Clarke stole home during a double steal, and Butt added an RBI single to push the lead to 3-0.
Tennessee added three more runs in the fifth. Following a pair of walks and a wild pitch that brought home Alannah Leach, Rutan delivered a two-run single up the middle to extend the advantage to 6-0.
The Lady Vols continued to apply pressure in the sixth when Knight walked, advanced on a passed ball and scored on Dodge’s double down the right-field line.
Tennessee put the game out of reach in the seventh with four runs on five hits. Bella Faw drove in two with a single to center, Gabby Leach followed with an RBI double, and McCall Sims capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
In the circle, Peyton Hardenburg made her first career start and collegiate debut. She tossed three innings before giving way to Nuwer. They combined for a four-hit shutout. Nuwer got the win, her second of the night.
DUE UP
Tennessee is back in action Saturday with two games against No. 23 Florida Atlantic at noon ET, followed by a Women’s College World Series rematch against No. 6 UCLA at 4 p.m.
