In a thrilling opener of the Knoxville Super Regional, the third-seeded Tennessee softball team staged a comeback to defeat the 14th-seeded Alabama team 3-2. The pivotal moment came in the fifth inning, when Laura Mealer hit a two-run homer to secure the victory for the Volunteers. Tennessee can secure a sweep of the series with a win in the second game on Saturday.
The game saw all three Tennessee runs being unearned, with errors playing a significant role in the outcome. Alabama initially took the lead in the first inning after a two-base error allowed Kristen White to score on a wild pitch. However, Tennessee fought back, with Mealer’s clutch home run being the turning point of the game.
Pitcher Karlyn Pickens delivered a strong performance for Tennessee, pitching five innings and earning her 22nd win of the season. Payton Gottshall closed out the game, securing her third save of the season. On the other side, Kayla Beaver took the loss for Alabama after allowing three unearned runs.
With this victory, Tennessee is now one step closer to securing a spot in the Women’s College World Series for the second consecutive year. Alabama, on the other hand, will look to bounce back in the next game to force a deciding game on Sunday. The matchup between these two powerhouse teams promises to be an exciting one for softball fans.
Source
Photo credit apnews.com
