Long ball lifts Tennessee past Georgia in Super Regional opener

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - FINAL | TENNESSEE 3, GEORGIA 1

The Tennessee Lady Volunteers take down Georgia 3-1 in game one of the NCAA Super Regionals.

The Lady Volunteers are now one win away from another trip to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.

PREGAME

The Tennessee Lady Volunteers swept their way through the Knoxville Regional and are now ready to face Georgia in the NCAA Super Regionals.

Related Coverage: SUPER LADY VOLS | Tennessee sweeps Knoxville regional

It will be an All-SEC showdown as Tennessee will face Georgia in the best-of-three series at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium starting on Thursday with a trip to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City on the line.

Tennessee is looking to make its third WCWS appearance in the past four seasons and 10th overall. Georgia has made five WCWS appearances, with its last coming in 2021.

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Karlyn Pickens gets the ball to start the game for Tennessee. After Georgia got runners on first and second with one out, Pickens retired the next batter and a routine ground ball to Bella Faw at shortstop allowed her to get the force at second base for out three.

The Lady Volunteers wasted no time getting on the board. Sophia Knight hit a leadoff home run. It was Knight’s first home run of the season. With one out and no one on, Emma Clarke hits a first pitch no-doubter to center field.

END 1ST | TENNESSEE 2, GEORGIA 0

Georgia answers back with a two-out solo home run by Emily Digby. After runners reached base off a single and a walk, Pickens picks up her second strikeout to get out of the inning.

Addison Fisher struck out Faw and Taelyn Holley to get the first two outs of the inning. Knight showed off her power again with a hard hit ball through second base for a two-out double. Ella Dodge popped up the first pitch she saw for out three.

END 2ND | TENNESSEE 2, GEORGIA 1

An easy top of the third for the Lady Volunteers. Two ground out and another strikeout from Pickens send Tennessee back up the plate.

Georgia got two quick outs before Mckenzie Butt ripped a hard hit single in the gap of right and center field. Elsa Morrison grounded out on the first pitch she saw for out three.

END 3RD | TENNESSEE 2, GEORGIA 1

The defense behind Karlyn is as sharp as ever. Faw had two great plays, getting in position, for back-to-back groundouts from shortstop. Pickens walked the third batter, but Dodge was in great position to get a slow rolling ground ball to third for out three.

Gabby Leach reaches on an error as the second baseman bobbled the ground ball. With no outs, Faw bunts and it gets past the third baseman trying to field it and she is safe at first. Holley lays down a solid bunt to move the runners in scoring position. Presley Harrison comes out of the bullpen to pitch for Georgia. Harrison strikes out Knight and Dodge lines out to third base and Tennessee goes scoreless in the fourth.

Tennessee has left six batters stranded on base.

END 4TH | TENNESSEE 2, GEORGIA 1

It is another three up, three down for Tennessee. A great defensive play by Dodge at third base followed by back-to-back strikeouts from Pickens and the Lady Vols look to add some insurance going back up to the plate.

With one out, Alannah Leach goes long and gets her 13th home run of the season. Butt grounds out to shortstop followed by a pop up to left field by Morrison.

Tennessee just needs six more outs.

END 5TH | TENNESSEE 3, GEORGIA 1

Tennessee gets two quick outs, but Pickens walks the next batter and then a Georgia player beats the throw to first and the Bulldogs have two runners on. Pickens does what Pickens does best. With Digby up, who hit the home run in the first inning, Pickens strikes her out in three pitches.

With a runner on first and two outs, Knight pops one way up to shallow left field for out three.

Three out stands between Tennessee and a game one win.

END 6TH | TENNESSEE 3, GEORGIA 1

Pickens strikes out the first batter and then Georgia is able to get runners in the corners off a double and a single back-to-back. Pickens then hits the next batter and the bases are loaded.

Pickens then retires the next two batters and Tennessee takes game one, 3-1.

FINAL | TENNESSEE 3, GEORGIA 1

The Lady Vols go for the series win tomorrow. First pitch is set for 3 pm ET on ESPN2.