KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 8 Tennessee ran its win streak to 14 straight on Sunday afternoon as it shutout No. 11 Missouri at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, 4-0, to complete the series sweep.
Sophomore Karlyn Pickens had another solid outing against the Tigers as she pitched her second complete-game shutout of the weekend. The right-hander fanned 11, walked one and allowed three hits as she cruised to her 12th victory of the season.
The shutout is Pickens’ eighth of the year and extends her shutout streak to 46 innings without allowing a run. The streak – which dates to March 2 – has seen Pickens collect eight wins, pitch six complete games, and earn six shutouts while striking out 58.
Teams are hitting .099 with 15 hits and nine walks against Pickens since March 2.
Tennessee (22-4, 3-0 SEC) scored all four of its runs on Sunday via the long ball. Junior newcomer Laura Mealer got things started in the bottom of the second with a solo blast – her sixth of the season – to straightaway center field.
In the third, junior McKenna Gibson hit a two-run rocket into the right field porches for her fourth long ball this year. The Santa Clarita, California, native finished the day 2-for-3 to cap off a productive weekend at the plate that saw her hit .625 with a pair of doubles and six runs batted in.
Graduate Kiki Milloy hit her eighth home run of the season – a solo shot – in the fifth inning to provide the Lady Vols with a little insurance.
Missouri (22-6, 2-4 SEC) starter Marissa McCann tossed five innings against Tennessee, allowing four runs on six hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts. McCann suffered her first loss of the year and is now 2-1.
The Tigers’ Taylor Pannell came on in relief in the sixth, fanning two and walking one.
Alex Hannold, Kara Daly and Katie Chester each had a hit for Mizzou.
STAT OF THE DAY
Tennessee is now 12-0 at home this season and is outscoring its opponents 98-6 inside the friendly confines of Sherri Parker Lee. With a .355 average and 28 home runs, the bats have been hot in Knoxville.
UP NEXT
Tennessee goes on a Carolina road swing Thursday with a trip to Cullowhee, North Carolina, to play Western Carolina before continuing down to Columbia, South Carolina, for a three-game series against the Gamecocks.
