Softball falls to No. 6 Tennessee

ST. GEORGE, Utah—A seventh-inning rally wasn’t enough as BYU softball (1-3) fell to No. 6 University of Tennessee 6-3 at the Canyons Complex on Saturday.

Seven BYU players had hits in the game and JC Clayton and Lacey Millett had the two Cougar RBI. BYU allowed Tennessee (5-0) to score six runs in the first five innings and then held the Volunteers scoreless before rallying in the seventh to score three runs.

Madisen Robb started the bottom of that seventh inning with a single to right field and Alexandra Hudson Shamo followed with a walk to force Tennessee to make a pitching change and bring in Ivy Renfroe in relief of her younger sister, Ellen. Ashlee Brawley Robinson stepped up to the plate and drew the walk to load the bases for BYU and then Robb scored BYU’s first run on a wild pitch. Ellen then re-entered the game to pitch and recorded Tennessee’s first out on a liner back to the mound. BYU scored two more runs on RBI’s from Clayton and Millett, but wasn't able to plate anymore in the 6-3 loss.

Tennessee started the game with three-straight singles and scored three runs before the top of the first inning finished. In the bottom of that frame, Clayton got into scoring position on an infield single and a throwing error to first base, but BYU wasn’t able to bring her across home plate.

The Lady Vols dealt another blow to the Cougars in the top of the second when Hannah Akamine smashed a lead-off solo home run to left center. However, the BYU defense held strong and recorded three-straight outs to end the inning down 4-0. Tennessee grabbed one more run at the top of the third to pad its lead.

Marissa Bravo hit BYU’s first extra-base hit in the bottom of the fourth with a lead-off double to right center, but BYU couldn’t bring her in to remain down 5-0.

Robb highlighted BYU’s defensive effort in the top of the sixth with a diving play to take away a single from Tennessee’s lead-off batter.

After 6.2 innings of work, Caroline Umphlett came in to replace Tori Almond who gave up six runs on 10 hits in the game and had five strikeouts. Umphlett used two pitches in her season debut to get the third out and send BYU to the bottom of the seventh.

After giving up three in the bottom of the seventh, Tennessee stopped BYU for the 6-3 victory.

The BYU vs. Idaho State game began immediately following the loss to Tennessee. The game can be followed on Game Tracker.