CLEARWATER, Fla. – The third-ranked Lady Vols picked up a pair of top 25 wins on Saturday at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
Tennessee (9-0) knocked off No. 23 Florida Atlantic in the first game of the day, 8-0 in six innings. In the nightcap, the Lady Vols took down No. 6 UCLA 11-0 in five. It marked UT’s first run-rule win over the Bruins.
UT has beaten five ranked opponents through the first nine games of the season, which is the most in program history over the opening two weekends.
GAME 1: #3 Tennessee 8, #23 Florida Atlantic 0
Tennessee rode an aggressive start and steady pitching to an 8-0 shutout of Florida Atlantic in six innings.
The Lady Vols wasted no time setting the tone in the first. Sophia Knight led off with a single, then swiped both second and third. She was able to plate UT’s first run on a throwing error, as Gabby Leach stole second and moved over to third on the miscue. Elsa Morrison followed with an RBI groundout to bring home Leach, giving Tennessee a quick 2-0 advantage despite recording just one hit in the frame.
Florida Atlantic threatened in the second, putting two on with a single by Destiny John and another from Madison Insc, but Tennessee worked out of the jam with a key out at third to keep the Owls off the board. From there, the Lady Vols settled in, retiring Florida Atlantic in order in the third, fourth, and sixth innings.
Tennessee broke things open in the fourth. Alannah Leach singled and came around to score after Emma Clarke doubled to right. With the bases loaded later in the inning, a walk to Makenzie Butt forced in a run, and Knight delivered an RBI single. Gabby Leach added a sacrifice fly to cap a three-run inning that pushed the lead to 5-0.
The fifth inning provided the exclamation point. After Ella Dodge walked and stole second, Alannah Leach launched a two-run homer down the right-field line, extending the margin to 7-0. The homer was the first of her career.
In the sixth, Tennessee added its final run. Gabby Leach singled and Saviya Morgan later scored as a pinch runner when Dodge ripped an RBI single down the right-field line, making it 8-0.
Rutan (1-0) got the start in the circle and tossed four shutout innings, scattering two hits. The junior picked up the win – her first with Tennessee. She gave way to Karlyn Pickens out of the bullpen. Pickens threw two frames, allowed one hit and struck out one.
GAME 2: #3 Tennessee 11, #6 UCLA 0
Tennessee erupted for eight runs in the third inning and never looked back, rolling to an 11-0 run-rule victory over UCLA in five innings.
The game was scoreless through two, as both pitching staffs worked around early traffic. UCLA’s best early chance came in the second when Keniya Bragg doubled to center, but the Bruins couldn’t cash in. Tennessee also threatened in the bottom half, putting runners on and swiping bases, only to be cut down at the plate to end the inning.
Everything changed in the third.
After Bella Faw grounded out, Sophia Knight sparked the rally with a single up the middle. Gabby Leach followed with a base hit to put runners at the corners, and Elsa Morrison gave Tennessee the lead with a two-run triple to left-center. Moments later, with the bases loaded, Emma Clarke reached on a fielder’s choice that brought in another run.
Then came the knockout punches.
Alannah Leach reached on a fielding error to load the bases, setting the stage for Taelyn Holley, who crushed a grand slam to center field to make it 7-0. After a pitching change, Maddi Rutan added a solo homer to left.
Leading 8-0, the Lady Vols kept their foot on the gas in the fourth. Ella Dodge drew a walk, and Clarke launched a two-run homer to left-center. Two batters later, Alannah Leach went deep to right-center for another solo shot, stretching the lead to 11-0.
In the circle, Erin Nuwer (5-0) was brilliant. She held UCLA to just one hit – the first time the Bruins have been one-hit since 2022. The sophomore earned her fifth win of the year and finished with four strikeouts and two walks.
DUE UP
The Lady Vols close out their stay in Clearwater with a matinee showdown against No. 7 Florida State. First pitch is slated for noon ET on ESPN2.
