KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The sixth-ranked Georgia softball team (30-4, 7-3) dropped a 1-0 decision to #7 Tennessee (31-4, 4-3) Saturday evening on a walk-off hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the seventh.
Neither team found home plate through six and a half innings as Brittany Gray dueled with Tennessee’s Caylan Arnold and Matty Moss in the circle. Combined, the pitching staffs allowed only five hits and recorded 13 strikeouts.
Gray worked the complete game, allowing the lone run on just two hits. She struck out five in the contest. Her unblemished record in the circle is now 15-1.
For Tennessee, Arnold pitched four scoreless innings in her start, allowing two hits and striking out five. Moss (14-1) completed the shutout, pitching three innings in relief.
Georgia’s offense out-hit Tennessee, 3-2. Alyssa DiCarlo, Alysen Febrey, and Jordan Doggett each had a hit. Febrey was on base the most with a walk to compliment her hit.
The scoreless game entered the seventh. Febrey singled to lead off and was bunted into scoring position but was stranded in the frame.
The bottom of the inning started with back-to-back walks. Two fly outs had two down in the frame. The third walk of the inning issued by Gray loaded the bases. Meghan Gregg was hit by a 2-2 pitch to drive in the winning run for the Lady Vols.
The shutout is the first of Georgia this season.
Game two of the series is set for 6 p.m. Sunday. The game will air live on the SEC Network.