KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - It was a tough outing for the Lipscomb softball team on Wednesday afternoon as the Lady Bisons fell 9-1 to Tennessee in five innings at Lee Stadium. 

A potential late rally began in the fifth inning as redshirt-freshman Kamrie Rich drove in Caitlin Turner with an RBI single.

Freshmen Meghan Kline and Ashley Montoya subsequently reached on a walk and a hit by pitch, respectively, but Lipscomb’s rally stalled out with the bases loaded. 

The Lady Vols jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning after rattling off a double, a triple, and a home run within four at-bats. Tennessee continued the offensive attack in the next two innings, notching two runs in the second and three runs in third, which proved to be enough for the win.

Starting pitcher Megan Gray (7-1) earned her first loss of the season after giving up six earned runs on seven hits and six walks. Senior Chloe Yeager replaced Gray on the mound in the bottom of the third, allowing zero hits or runs in just over an inning of action. 

The Lady Bisons fall to 9-9 with the loss, while Tennessee improves to 10-7.

AROUND THE BASES

• Senior Hannah DeVault notched Lipscomb’s third hit to go along with hits by Rich and Montoya. 
• Kline and fellow freshman Presley Leebrick each drew one walk apiece. 
• Leebrick was left on base three times.
• Senior Peyton Ward was credited with an error in the field. 
• Rich added to her team-leading RBI total. She now has 12.

UP NEXT: Lipscomb will be back at Draper Diamond this weekend for a three-game series with Tennessee Tech, starting with a doubleheader on Saturday.