Tennessee softball forced to play another game after WCWS semifinals loss vs Texas – Knoxville News Sentinel

OKLAHOMA CITY — Tennessee softball will have to play a second game in the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series.
The No. 7 seed Lady Volunteers (49-11) lost 5-2 to No. 2 seed Texas (50-12) at Devon Park on June 1. The two teams will play another game to determine which team goes to the WCWS finals.
Texas used a five-hit, three-run fifth inning to take the lead after Tennessee tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. SEC Player of the Year Katie Stewart hit a solo home run, and later, SEC Freshman of the Year Kendall Wells hit a two-RBI single.
The Lady Vols used two of their three main pitchers in the loss. Erin Nuwer started and was relieved by Sage Mardjetko at the start of the third. After Mardjetko gave up three runs, Nuwer came back into the game in the fifth. The two pitchers combined to give up 13 hits, the most allowed in a game this season by Tennessee’s pitchers.
Texas’ Citlaly Gutierrez pitched 6.2 innings for the Longhorns, allowing two runs runs on five hits and one walk. Game 2 of the semifinals will start at 3:17 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Tennessee once again failed to score a run after getting a runner into scoring position. Elsa Morrison hit a double to get on base, but the batters after couldn’t reach safely stranding Morrison at second. The Lady Vols still trail 4-1.
Tennessee will make another pitching change vs. Texas. Erin Nuwer will come back in the game in the top of the fifth with one out. Tennessee makes the change after Sage Mardjetko gave up a home run and later a two-RBI single in this inning. Texas leads 4-1. The Lady Vols elect to go back to their starter rather than bringing in Karlyn Pickens, who started warming up in the fourth inning.
Texas is back in front in the top of the fifth inning. Katie Stewart hit a solo home run to left field to give the Longhorns a one-run advantage. It’s her 29th of the season. Texas leads 2-1.
Gabby Leach tied up the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with an RBI triple. Ella Dodge scored got on with a walk and scored from first base on Leach’s hit. It was Tennessee’s first hit of the game. The score is 1-1 entering the fifth inning.
Reese Atwood scores the first run of the game with a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning. It’s her 19th of the season. Texas leads 1-0.
Ella Faw lead off the third inning and got on due to an error. With a SAC bunt and a groundout, Faw made it all the way to third, but Alannah Leach grounded out to end the inning before Faw could make it home. The score is still 0-0.
Tennessee has made a pitching change entering the third inning. Sage Mardjetko (16-2, 1.06 ERA) is in the game, pitching in relief of Erin Nuwer. It’s a similar situation to Game 2 of the super regionals. Nuwer started and was pulled after going through the opponent’s entire batting order.
Both teams had an error in the second inning that allowed a runner to get on base. Ella Dodge’s throwing error allowed Kaiah Altmeyer to reach and make it to second. Texas had back to back errors that allowed Elsa Morrison and Ella Dodge to reach, however no runs were scored in the inning.
Tennessee’s offense if off to a slow start in the semifinals. In the bottom of the first, Sophia Knight and Alanna Leach grounded out before Emma Clarke struck out to end the inning. The score is still 0-0.
Erin Nuwer is making her 18th start of the season against Texas in the WCWS semifinals. Nuwer has the lowest ERA on Tennessee’s pitching staff. She’s pitched 92 inning this season with 89 strikeouts, 25 walks and an opponent batting average of .137.
Pitcher: Erin Nuwer (15-1, 0.99 ERA)
All times Eastern
Thursday, May 28
Friday, May 29
Saturday, May 30
Sunday, May 31
Monday, June 1
WCWS Finals
Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social‬. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe
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