Lady Vols drop contest versus Alabama

After sweeping No. 17 Alabama over weekend on the road, seventh-ranked Tennessee (40-9, 10-8 SEC) fell by a score of 4-0 on Monday. Crimson Tide pitcher Alexis Osorio again pitched well against the Lady Vols with seven strikeouts in the seven-inning shutout.

Tennessee sophomore Cailan Hannon’s got one hit to avoid an Osorio no-hitter. After seemingly solving their offensive issues, the Lady Vols faced a shutout for the first time since their weekend series with Auburn earlier in April.

Alabama took no time getting on the board at Rhoads Stadium, as Caroline Hardy drove in a run off a single to center field. The third inning ultimately finished Tennessee, as the Crimson Tide tallied two runs on tosses from Vols pitcher Matty Moss. Merris Booker and Sydney Booker both drove in runs for Alabama with a pair of hits.

Tennessee took Moss out of the contest after the inning following three earned runs and no strikeouts in her two innings pitched. Caylan Arnold finished out the game for the Lady Vols, but she faced adversity as well.

Poor fielding once again bit Tennessee, as an error in the sixth inning brought around Booker to give the Crimson Tide a 4-0 lead. Arnold finished the game with three walks, four strikeouts and one earned run allowed.

The shutout marked Alabama’s 12th this year, as the heart of the Crimson Tide’s lineup gave them all four of their runs on Monday. All six of Alabama’s hits came from different players in the win.

After the loss, the Lady Vols tied Texas A&M for fourth place in the SEC standings. Tennessee needs wins in two important series before the SEC Tournament in Columbia, Missouri in just over two weeks.

Up next, the orange-and-white face Kentucky for a weekend series in Knoxville at Sherri Lee Parker Stadium. The Volunteers finish up their season on the road in Starkville against Mississippi State before the SEC Tournament. First pitch of Tennessee’s series with the Wildcats is set for 6 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.

Written by Seth Raborn

Featured image courtesy of Tennessee Athletics