LAKE CHARLES – Sixth-ranked Tennessee blasted four home runs in the first game of a Friday night doubleheader against McNeese to help pace it to a 12-0, six-inning win, then added three more homers in the second game en route to a 10-2 win on the first day of the I-10 Challenge that's hosted by McNeese and Lamar.
The Cowgirls fell to 4-4 while Tennessee improved to 7-1. McNeese will host Missouri State at 10 a.m. on Saturday then Nicholls at 3. Nicholls will play Missouri State at 12:30. 0The scheduled was moved up to an earlier start to avoid forecasted rain later in the day.
The Vols broke a 0-0 tie in the top of the third with a couple of runs then added two more in the fourth inning on a two-run home run by Ella Dodge. It was the first of four home runs by Tennessee in the game. The lead grew to 6-0 after five then the Vols put six runs on the board in the sixth inning to build a 12-0 lead.
Cowgirl starting pitcher
Kadence Williams took the loss after she threw 3.2 innings and gave up four runs, three earned, on four hits.
Tennessee All-American pitcher Karlyn Pickens picked up the win by throwing five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out five.
In game two, the Vols built an early 3-0 lead after 1 ½ innings but the Cowgirls cut the margin to 3-2 in the bottom of frame after
Brylie Fontenot drew a bases loaded walk to score Jada Munoz, then
Rylie Bouvier scored despite McNeese hitting into a double play.
The Vols got two more runs in the top of the fourth to go up 5-2 on a two-run double by Taylor Pannell. A solo home run by UT's Alanna Leach in the top of the fifth grew the margin to 6-2.
Tennessee popped two more home runs in the sixth inning and added a couple more runs in the seventh.
