KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Softball claimed Game 1 of the NCAA Tournament Super Regional against Alabama on Friday with a 3-2 win.
The Lady Vols were down 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. They scored a run on an error and then came a clutch home run from Laura Mealer. She sent a two-run shot over the fence to put UT up 3-2, a lead they wouldn't surrender.
After the game, she was asked if she had something against Alabama.
"Do I have something against them? Honestly, yes," she said. "I've been a Tennessee fan my whole life. Alabama is not my favorite team."
Mealer was born in Tennessee and played at Middle Tennessee State University last season before transferring to UT. Last year, she played Alabama in the NCAA Tournament regional with the Blue Raiders.
She hit a home run against them on two separate occasions. Head coach Karen Weekly remembered that heading into this weekend's Super Regional. She challenged Mealer to play at that level in this series with a trip to the Women's College World Series on the line.
"I need you to go up there with swagger thinking you can do damage every time when the bat is in your hands," Weekly said, recalling what she told Mealer leading up to these games.
Mealer certainly did in Game 1 in a pivotal way.
The Lady Vols are one win away from returning to the Women's College World Series. They have a chance to punch their ticket on Saturday in Game 2 at 3 p.m.
