KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 9 Tennessee softball made a statement in its first SEC game of the season with a resounding mercy-rule win against No. 12 Missouri at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on Friday night.
The Lady Vols put up seven runs in the first inning thanks in large part to a Giulia Koutsoyanopulos grand slam and Tennessee took care of business in five innings with a 9-0 win against the Tigers.
McKenna Gibson got the scoring started for Tennessee with a two-RBI double in the first, and Destiny Rodriguez followed that up with an RBI single to give the Lady Vols a 3-0 lead before they even recorded an out, and then Koutsoyanopulos' grand slam made it 7-0 at the end of the first.
Taylor Pannell added to the lead with an RBI single in the second inning, and then Bella Faw rounded out the scoring with the first home run of her college career for a 9-0 advantage.
Karlyn Pickens went the distance on the mound in the five-inning shutout for her 11th win of the season. She allowed just two hits while walking one and striking out five in a dominant effort.
Tennessee continues the series against Missouri on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
