SEC Tournament: Tennessee softball defeats Alabama, advances to title game
No. 1 seed Tennessee (43-8, 19-5 SEC) defeated No. 5 Alabama (40-18, 14-10), 7-6, in the SEC Tournament semifinals Friday at Bogle Park in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The Lady Vols trailed by four runs in the first inning as SEC Freshman of the Year pitcher Karlyn Pickens did not record an out before being replaced by Payton Gottshall.
Tennessee scored four runs in the first inning. Lair Beautae hit a grand slam, one of three home runs in the game for the Lady Vols.
The Lady Vols led, 5-4, in the second inning after a solo home run Kiki Milloy.
Katie Taylor hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning, extending Tennessee’s lead to 7-4.
Gottshall pitched seven innings, allowing up five hits, two runs and one walk, while recording five strikeouts.
The Lady Vols advance to play No. 10 South Carolina in the SEC Tournament championship game.
First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. EDT and ESPN will televise the contest.
