KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 1 Tennessee completed a series sweep of No. 17 LSU on Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, rallying for the second straight day to secure an 8-5 victory.
Gabby Leach starred throughout the weekend and delivered the walk-off winner Sunday, blasting a three-run home run over the right-field wall in the bottom of the seventh inning. Leach finished 2-for-3 at the plate and went 6-for-10 over the three-game series with four runs, three home runs and six RBIs.
Tennessee (23-0, 3-0 SEC) trailed 4-0 after three innings, marking the second straight game the Lady Vols faced a four-run deficit.
In the fourth, a Makenzie Butt double and a Maddi Rutan walk put two runners on for Emma Clarke. The sophomore crushed a 2-1 pitch to the opposite field for a three-run homer, pulling Tennessee within one run.
Ella Dodge tied the game in the fifth with a leadoff solo home run. An error, a walk and a passed ball then put runners in scoring position with one out for Rutan, who lifted a sacrifice fly to score Saviya Morgan and give Tennessee a 5-4 lead.
LSU (17-7, 0-3 SEC) answered in the sixth, tying the game at 5-5 after drawing four consecutive two-out walks.
After Tennessee threatened in the sixth, Leach ended the game in the seventh.
Butt drew a leadoff walk and moved into scoring position on a one-out single from Rutan. Clarke followed with a fielder’s choice to shortstop that erased the lead runner for the second out.
Leach then stepped to the plate and quickly fell behind 0-2 in the count before calling time. She worked the count full, fouled off the sixth pitch of the at-bat and then crushed the seventh pitch over the wall in right field to secure the series sweep.
Tennessee used a bullpen approach in the circle, with Erin Nuwer making her second straight start. Nuwer pitched one inning before giving way to freshman Peyton Hardenburger, who allowed two runs on three hits in one inning.
Sage Mardjetko relieved Hardenburger and tossed 3.2 innings. The right-hander allowed three runs on two hits with five walks and two strikeouts.
Nuwer reentered in the sixth and closed out the game, finishing with 2.1 total innings while allowing no runs and no hits with one walk. She earned the win – her 10th of the season.
Jayden Heavener (6-4) started and went the distance for LSU, allowing eight runs on eight hits with five walks and four strikeouts.
STILL STREAKING
With the win, the Lady Vols improved to 23-0, tying the 2007 team for the second-best start in program history.
DUE UP
Tennessee returns to action Tuesday, March 10, against Austin Peay in the annual Midstate Classic in Columbia, Tennessee. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.
