Softball Vols take 16-game win streak to Alabama series
KNOXVILLE — A Tennessee softball team many assumed would compete for championships in 2018 is playing its way into the national conversation a year ahead of schedule.
The Volunteers are ranked 14th and riding a 16-game winning streak spanning three weekend sweeps, including two against ranked Southeastern Conference opponents, as they enter a televised weekend set with Alabama.
But it only gets harder from here for the Vols (375, 9-3).
The three-game series with the No. 9 Crimson Tide (36-7, 10-5) begins a harrowing stretch run that will test a Vols roster with only one senior as a regular member of the lineup.
“There will be no need to motivate anyone this weekend,” Tennessee co-head coach Karen Weekly said. “If anything, we need to dial down that warrior level and make sure everyone is calm, because everyone will be up for a series like this. Playing in front of a packed house this weekend, it will be awesome.”
Sherri Parker Lee Stadium is sold out for all three games this weekend, beginning with today’s 6 p.m. first pitch. The series will be televised by the SEC Network.
After playing Alabama, the Vols close the regular season against No. 11 LSU, No. 3 Florida and No. 5 Texas A&M before hosting the SEC tournament May 10-13.
“I think from here on out, every game is going to have a postseason feel,” Weekly said. “Because
every opponent we have left on our schedule is a top-10 RPI team. It’s going to be exciting.”
Junior shortstop Meghan Gregg, named this week a finalist for USA Softball collegiate player of the year, is leading the country with 62 runs batted in. But it’s the Vols’ consistency throughout
the lineup that has allowed them to flourish offensively, Weekly said. Tennessee scored 23 runs in three games against Kentucky last weekend.
Of 10 players with at least 25 starts this season, seven have batting averages of .300 or better, and the lowest average among the group is .259.
“All my teammates do a really good job of getting on base,” Gregg said. “I wouldn’t have these RBIs if I didn’t have some really good people in front of me. … I think it’s a team effort, for sure.”
Pitching and defense have been strong, too. Freshman Caylan Arnold is emerging to complement sophomore Maty Moss in the circle. Both have earned run averages under 2.00, and the Vols rank fourth in the SEC in fielding percentage.
Each of the eight teams ranked just ahead of Tennessee in the USA Today/ NFCA Coaches poll has more losses than the Vols. In some ways, Weekly acknowledged, her team may be underrated.
“But I think we kind of like that spot,” she said. “The less people respect us, the more our kids respond to that.”