Tennessee softball fails to capitalize on hits, falls to No. 3 Virginia Tech
Timely hits were the story of the game in Tennessee softball's matchup against No. 3 Virginia Tech – the Hokies had them Wednesday, scoring five runs off on only five hits to win 5-2.
No. 15 Tennessee (30-13) got runners on base at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, but couldn't capitalize. Meanwhile, the Hokies (33-6) hit two two-run home runs, the second in the sixth inning sealed the win.
"It comes down to getting the timely hits and making the timely pitches, and tonight Virginia Tech did that," Tennessee coach Karen Weekly said.
Kiki Milloy was involved in both runs scored, going 2-for-4. The junior was in scoring position after stealing second – her 24th in 25 attempts this season – and made it home off a single from Zaida Puni. Milloy then brought the game within one in the fourth when she hit a line drive to left field to bring Rylie West home.
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Milloy was left off of USA Softball's list of Top 25 players in the country released Wednesday, which Weekly took umbrage.
"I couldn't believe it," Weekly said. "I don't know that there's anybody in the country with her combination of speed and power. I tell people all the time the thing I enjoy watching her do the most is run the bases. She's just an incredible player and an incredible leader. So yeah, she's easily one of the top 25 players in the country."
Rogers makes long awaited return
After pitching a complete game Monday for the Lady Vols, Erin Edmoundson got the start again. She began the first two innings with leadoff walks and Virginia Tech went up 3-0 in the first inning on an RBI single and a two-run homer from freshman Bre Peck.
She retired six batters in a row from the end of the second inning to the fourth when she walked Mackenzie Lawter. Edmoundson (17-5) finished with five strikeouts, three hits and five walks.
Ashley Rogers pitched for the first time since UT's series at Georgia on April 8 due to injury. She stepped into the circle with one out in the fifth inning and struck out the next two batters swinging to end it.
"That was our plan tonight and it worked out well when we made the change," Weekly said of Rogers coming in the fifth. "Ashley came in and got two really big outs for us there to stop the bleeding and that was huge."
Rogers struck out six of the 11 she faced, only allowing two hits. But one of those hits was a two-run shot over the left field wall.
Leaving runners hanging
The Lady Vols have left 29 runners on base in the last four games – 17 were in scoring position. On Wednesday, Tennessee left six runners on base in scoring position, which led to seven hits and only two runs scored.
"I think it's just making sure you have the right mentality when you get in that position," Weekly said. "Tonight, I really thought that we had a good mentality in the dugout, one person after another and honestly, there's nights you just don't get it done."
With Tennessee winning half the battle of getting runners on base and in scoring position, Milloy said it's crucial to start capitalizing on bringing those runners home.
"They definitely have good pitchers, they wouldn't be a Top 25 top 10 team if they didn't have good pitchers," Milloy said. "But that's definitely on us, just executing being able to come in and execute and do our job."
After winning walk-off thrillers and hitting home runs in all three games in the Texas A&M series sweep, the Lady Vols weren't able to send any hits over the wall Wednesday.
Cora Hall: Covering UT women's athletics
Twitter | cora.hall@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee softball fails to capitalize on hits, falls 5-2 to Virginia Tech
