KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 3 Tennessee beat Kentucky 8-3 on Thursday night inside Sherri Parker Lee Stadium and is in a prime position to claim back-to-back SEC regular season tiles.
The Lady Vols fell behind 1-0 but scored three runs in the fourth inning to take the lead. Kiki Millo brought in the first run on a single to left, which she reached second base on as Kentucky tried to throw Jackie Kirkpatrick out at the plate unsuccessfully. That tied the game at 1-1.
Zaida Puni then hit a ball to right field with Milloy and Mealer on first and second base with two outs. A ball that should have been caught dropped to the field due to miscommunication from the Wildcats. Mealer and Milloy were already in a full sprint with the ball in the air with two outs and as a result, both scored.
Tennessee went up 3-1.
Kentucky found a response in the top of the fifth inning. Lauryn Borzilleri hit a two-run home run for Kentucky and just like that, the game was tied.
That would be the end of Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens' night. Payton Gotshall came in. She allowed a double and then intentionally walked a batter. She quickly went to work getting three outs, allowing no runs and kept the game level.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Lady Vols retook the lead in a hurry. Rylie West hit a solo home run. Sophia Nugent did the same on the next at-bat, Tennessee went up 5-3.
In the sixth inning, Taylor Pannell hit a three-run home run for an 8-3 lead. It was the dagger.
Now if UT gets a win against Kentucky on Friday, they clinch at least a share of the SEC regular season title. If Texas A&M loses to Florida on Friday, the Lady Vols get at least a share of the SEC title without needing to win another game this season. If Texas A&M were to lose and Tennessee wins on Friday, they would claim the title outright.
Tennessee plays Kentucky in the second game of the series on Friday at 6 p.m.
