Tennessee softball won the SEC Tournament Championship Saturday afternoon, knocking off South Carolina 3-1 for the program’s third ever SEC Tournament Championship and first since 2011.
The Lady Vols defended their regular season crown by defeating Florida 4-0 in the quarterfinals and Alabama 7-6 in the semifinals on the way to Sunday’s championship win.
Payton Gottshall got the start, surrendering just three hits and one run in five innings pitched while earning the win. Senior star Ashley Rogers earned the save while striking out three in two innings of relief.
Rogers struck out eight in a complete game shutout in the win over Florida while Gottshall allowed two runs in seven innings of relief against Alabama— entering with Tennessee trailing 2-0 in the first inning.
The Lady Vols were balanced at the plate over the weekend. Kiki Milloy improved on her program season-best home run record with long balls in the quarter and semifinals. Second baseman Lair Beautae and outfielder Katie Taylor each hit clutch homers in the win over Alabama.
Freshman Jamison Brockenbrough was fantastic in the championship game, going three-for-three with a clutch two-RBI single that gave the Lady Vols the lead in third inning.
Coach Karen Weekly’s team not awaits its NCAA Tournament draw on Selection Sunday. Tennessee enters the NCAA Tournament 43-8 (19-5 SEC) with SEC regular season and tournament championships.
