LEXINGTON, Ky. – No. 9 Tennessee earned the series sweep over Kentucky with a 10-3 win Monday night at John Cropp Stadium. With the sweep, UT has now won 10 straight over the Wildcats and 20 of the last 22 dating to the 2015 season.
The Lady Vols (37-6, 12-6 SEC) started Erin Nuwer in the circle in Game 3. She tossed five innings, scattering six hits and allowing three runs – one earned. The sophomore walked one and struck out five. She picked up the win and is now 14-1 on the year.
Junior Sage Mardjetko came on in relief and closed out the final two innings. She gave up one hit and a walk with three strikeouts.
Tennessee jumped out quickly on Monday night, putting up six runs in the first inning. Ella Dodge started the run parade with a two-run home run down the line in left. Alannah Leach followed with another two-run blast to right field.
Maddi Rutan kept things going with an RBI single to plate Taelyn Holley before scoring herself on an RBI single from Bella Faw.
Leach crushed her 10th home run of the season and her second of the night in the second inning. The home run was a solo shot to give Tennessee a 7-0 lead.
Emma Clarke added to the lead in the third with a double to left center, scoring Rutan and Dodge to give UT a 9-0 advantage.
Kentucky (24-22, 1-17 SEC) hit back in the bottom of the third, plating three runs on four hits and an error.
Rutan barreled her fifth home run of the year in the fourth, pushing UT’s lead out to 10-3.
The Wildcats started Sarah Haendiges in the circle on Monday night. She did not record an out before being pulled for McKenzie Oslanzi. Haendiges allowed four runs on two hits with one walk. She took the loss and is now 10-8 on the year.
Hailey Nutter and Abby Hammond also threw for UK.
UT hit four home runs in a game for the fourth time this season.
DUE UP
Tennessee will stay on the road, traveling from Lexington to Durham, North Carolina, to play Duke on Wednesday, April 15 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
