KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 1/4 Tennessee fell to No. 19 Clemson 4-3 in a nine-inning battle Tuesday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Tennessee (38-9) broke through with the game’s opening in the bottom of the third. Ella Dodge singled up the middle to spark the offense, and Emma Clarke reached on an error, allowing Dodge to move into scoring position. Taylor Pannell then came through with a clutch RBI single to center, giving the Lady Vols a 1-0 lead.
Clemson (38-12) responded in the fifth. A hit batter, single and walk loaded the bases, before a throwing error allowed three runs to score as the Tigers took a 3-1 lead.
The Lady Vols answered in the sixth as McKenna Gibson and Sophia Nugent delivered back-to-back singles, with Nugent advancing to second on the throw. Following a Clemson pitching change, Gabby Leach lined a two-run single to right, scoring pinch runners Amanda Ahlin and Katie Taylor to tie the game at 3-3.
Clemson capitalized again in the ninth after a walk, a hit, and a sacrifice foul out brought home the go-ahead run. Tennessee threatened in the bottom half with two runners aboard, but a double play on a flyout to center sealed the win for the Tigers.
IN THE CIRCLE
Karlyn Pickens (18-5) started for Tennessee and retired the first eight batters she faced. The Weaverville, North Carolina, native struck out eight, walked three and allowed four runs – one earned – on the night.
CHECK THE STATS
Taylor Pannell extended her on-base streak to 18 games and finished with one hit and one RBI.
Tuesday marked the fourth meeting between the programs and the third to go into extra innings. All four games in the series have been decided by one run.
DUE UP
Tennessee travels to Oxford, Mississippi, for its second-to-last SEC series of the regular season. The Lady Vols open the three-game set against Ole Miss on Friday at 7 p.m. ET. Games 2 and 3 are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, respectively, with all three contests streaming on SECN+.
