COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 8 Tennessee secured a series victory over Missouri with a 4-2 win in Game 2 on Friday night at the Missouri Softball Stadium.
Tennessee (42-8, 16-7 SEC) collected 11 hits and used a balanced offensive attack to take control after an early deficit. Missouri (27-28, 8-15 SEC) struck first in the opening inning, stringing together three hits, including an RBI single from Stefania Abruscato, to grab a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Vols answered in the third as Ella Dodge launched a leadoff solo home run down the right-field line to even the score at 1-1.
Tennessee broke the game open in the fourth, taking advantage of Missouri miscues. After a pair of errors extended the inning, Dodge delivered again with a two-RBI single to left, scoring both Maddi Rutan and Bella Faw to give the Lady Vols a 3-1 advantage.
UT added an insurance run in the fifth. Following a leadoff single from Gabby Leach and a walk, Makenzie Butt drove in a run with an RBI pinch-hit single up the middle to push the lead to 4-1.
Missouri trimmed the deficit in the bottom half of the inning when Abruscato doubled and later scored on a groundout, making it 4-2, but Tennessee’s pitching staff shut the door the rest of the way.
Sage Mardjetko (12-1) got the start in the circle and worked five innings. The Lemont, Illinois, native finished the night allowing two runs – one earned – on five hits. The righty walked two and fanned seven in the victory.
Karlyn Pickens entered in relief to begin the sixth. Pickens closed out the final two innings, holding Missouri scoreless to earn her fifth save of the season. The flamethrower notched four strikeouts in the outing.
Missouri threatened early and again in the late innings, but stranded runners in scoring position multiple times throughout the night, including leaving the bases loaded in the first.
Dodge led Tennessee offensively, finishing with three RBIs, highlighted by her home run and go-ahead double.
DUE UP
Tennessee and Missouri wrap up the series and the regular season on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
