Courtesy / UT Athletics
Clearwater, Fla. – Day one at the 2024 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational was a tough one for No. 2 Tennessee as it dropped two games despite strong pitching and out-hitting its opponents.
In game one, UT fell to No. 9 Stanford in a 1-0 pitcher’s duel. In its second game versus No. 3 Texas, the Lady Vols again came out on the wrong end of a 2-1 nail bitter.
Tennessee (4-2) out-hit Stanford five to two before out-hitting Texas eight to six.
GAME ONE: No. 2 Tennessee 0 – No. 9 Stanford 1
Regan Krause got the start in the circle for Stanford but lasted just two outs before NiJaree Canady came on in relief. The sophomore right-hander finished out the game, tossing 6.1 innings. She allowed just two hits with five strikeouts.
Canady came into the game after Krause loaded the bases in the top of the first and was able to escape the jam and keep Tennessee off the board.
Payton Gottshall tossed a complete game for UT, giving up just one run on two hits. She struck out four and walked three. She took the loss and is now 2-1 this season.
McKenna Gibson led the Lady Vols with two hits, including a leadoff double in the third.
The Cardinal scored the game’s lone run in the bottom of the first as Ava Gall hit a double to score Taryn Kern with two away.
GAME TWO: No. 2 Tennessee 1 – No. 3 Texas 2
Texas jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after two innings courtesy of a Reese Atwood double to right field in the first frame that played Bella Dayton. In the second, an error allowed Texas’ second run to score.
Junior Sophia Nugent got Tennessee on the board with an RBI single to left in the fourth inning, scoring senior Rylie West from second.
In the circle, Karlyn Pickens got the start for UT and went the distance, throwing six innings. The right-hander allowed two runs – one earned – on six hits, with six strikeouts and three walks. She suffered the loss and is 2-1 on the year.
For Texas, Citlaly Gutierrez took the ball and tossed a complete game for the Longhorns. She surrendered one run on eight hits, struck out six and walked none. With the win, Gutierrez improved to 2-0.
UP NEXT
Tennessee is back in action on Saturday as it plays Georgia Tech at noon ET before facing No. 19 UCLA at 4 p.m.
