KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On Saturday, the third-seeded Tennessee softball team run-ruled Virginia, 12-0, in Game 3 of the Knoxville Regional in Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Four massive home runs fueled the win to advance the Lady Vols to the Regional Final.
Kiki Milloy blasted her 13th home run of the season off the fourth pitch of the game to get Tennessee on the board early. Two pitches later, Taylor Pannell stepped up to the plate and smashed a solo homer to make it a 2-0 game.
In the second inning, Tennessee scored five runs off a McKenna Gibson single, a Rylie West sac fly and Sophia Nugent's three-run homer to extend the lead to 7-0.
The momentum didn't stop in the third inning. Pannell doubled to center to plate Milloy for the Lady Vols' eighth run of the day. In the same inning, West hit Tennessee's fourth and final homer, another three-run blast to put the game in run-rule territory.
In the fourth inning, Milloy hit a single to score the final run to put the game away, 12-0.
Payton Gottshall finished with five strikeouts and just three hits allowed. She earned her 20th win and third shutout this season.
Next, the Lady Vols will play on Sunday afternoon in the regional final against the winner of game five.
