NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 1 Tennessee made history Thursday at Draper Diamond, defeating Lipscomb 12-0 in five innings to set the program record for the best start in school history at 25-0.
The 2026 Lady Vols surpassed the 2006 squad for the most consecutive wins to begin a season. The previous mark was 24-0.
Tennessee needed two days to complete the win over Lipscomb (6-17) after inclement weather suspended play Wednesday in the bottom of the second inning. The Lady Vols led 10-0 when play was halted.
Gabby Leach opened the scoring with a three-run home run in the first inning. Emma Clarke followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Makenzie Butt, and Maddi Rutan added an RBI single as Tennessee plated five runs in the inning.
The Big Orange added five more runs in the second. Taelyn Holley, Clarke and Sophia Knight each drew RBI walks, while Rutan drove in two runs with a double.
Play was halted before Lipscomb could bat in the bottom of the second.
Tennessee added two more runs Thursday to close out the run-rule victory. Rutan drew a bases-loaded walk in the third, and Knight lifted a sacrifice fly in the fifth to give the Lady Vols a 12-0 lead.
Rutan finished 2-for-2 with four RBIs.
Freshman Peyton Hardenburger started in the circle Wednesday and returned Thursday to finish the game. The right-hander tossed a one-hit complete-game shutout to earn her first career victory, striking out seven and walking one.
The Wamego, Kansas, native carried a perfect game into the fifth inning before Mallory Ogle singled to left field with two outs. Hardenburger issued a walk to the next batter before recording her seventh strikeout to secure the run-rule win.
HEATING UP
Over the last 10 games, junior Maddi Rutan is batting .381 with four runs, two doubles and seven RBIs. For the season, she is hitting .269 with 13 runs, two home runs and 12 RBIs.
DUE UP
Tennessee continues its road trip Friday, opening a three-game SEC series at Mississippi State in Starkville. The series runs March 13-15 at Nusz Park.
