WACO, Texas — No. 3 Tennessee softball swept a doubleheader against No. 16 Baylor at Getterman Stadium in Waco, Tx. on Friday night.
The Lady Vols scored the first run of the second game of the twin bill before they recorded their first out, but back-to-back home runs from Kiki Milloy and Rylie West was the difference in what became a 9-1 run-rule victory for Tennessee.
The power-hitting duo gave Tennessee a 3-1 lead in the 3rd inning, and Kiki Milloy's home run was the 57th of her Tennessee career, tying the program record.
West also drove in three more runs in the sixth inning to help propel Tennessee past the mercy rule threshold and on to the sweep in a six-inning win.
Lady Vol ace Payton Gottshall entered in relief and pitched a shutout in 4.1 innings of work to secure her second win of the season, also striking out six batters. Charli Orsini got the start for Tennessee and allowed three hits and one run with a strikeout in 1.2 innings.
Tennessee had to complete a comeback with its back against the wall to take the first game of the doubleheader.
The Lady Vols were on the wrong side of a no-hitter through five innings, but a pair of timely hits in the top of the sixth helped Tennessee get on the board, and then Destiny Rodriguez hit her first career home run with two outs in the top of the seventh to plate two runs and lift Tennessee to a 3-2 victory over the Bears.
Just three Lady Vols recorded hits in the first leg of the doubleheader, but they all made a difference. Rylie West broke up the no-hitter, while McKenna Gibson drove West in with an RBI single to get Tennessee on the board. Rodriguez's home run was the final hit for Tennessee in a pivotal moment.
Tennessee pitchers Ryleigh White and Karlyn Pickens shared the pitching duties for the Lady Vols in game one. White got the start and went two innings, allowing two hits and no runs while walking one batter. Pickens picked up her first win of the season with a five-inning effort where she allowed three hits and two runs with four strikeouts.
