Lady Vols make history with back-to-back SEC softball titles

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennessee is back on top of the SEC softball world. The Lady Vols clinched a share of the SEC regular season title with their ninth straight conference win, thanks to a 8-3 victory over Kentucky in game two.

If Tennessee completes the sweep of Kentucky on Saturday, the Lady Vols will be crowned outright SEC champions.

The Lady Vols got a couple of runners on base to start off the first inning. Zaida Puni advanced on a walk, and then Rylie West hit a single to put them both in scoring position. However, Sophia Nugent flied out to center for the final out to leave them both stranded.

Things stayed relatively quiet until the top of the third. Kentucky’s Rylea Smith started things off with a single and then Grace Lorsung followed up with a double. Ally Hutchins brought them both home on a three-run homer that sailed over the left field wall as the Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead.

Tennessee responded in the bottom of the inning. With Rylie West and Amanda Ahlin in scoring position, Sophia Nugent sent a single through the left side to score Ahlin and put the Lady Vols on the board. Taylor Pannell followed suit with a RBI single to bring home West and pull Tennessee within one run.

The Lady Vols threatened again in the fourth. Giulia Koutsoyanopulos hit a single up the middle and Jamison Brockenbrough, pinch hitting for Laura Mealer, was walked to put two runners on. Then, Kiki Milloy did what she does best.

Tennessee’s home run queen smashed a ball over the center field wall for a three-run homer, giving UT its first lead of the night, 5-3. With her home run, Milloy garnered yet another accolade, as she became Tennessee’s program leader in total bases with 518.

With the bases loaded again in the fourth, Destiny Rodriguez was walked and Zaida Puni ran home for an insurance run to extend the Lady Vols lead to 6-3.

After hitting a home run in game one, Taylor Pannell hit her second home run in as many days to give Tennessee an 8-3 advantage in the sixth.

The Lady Vols go for the series sweep, and the outright SEC regular season title on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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