If the Tennessee softball team can't make better use of its bats in the second game of its NCAA super regional against Southeastern Conference rival Florida, the Lady Volunteers will be packing up those clubs - and the rest of their gear - for the season.
The fifth-seeded Gators won 3-0 in Friday's opening game of the best-of-three series in Gainesville, moving them a win away from the Women's College World Series. The second game is at 6 p.m. Saturday, with a third game, if necessary, on Sunday.
In the opener, the 12th-seeded Lady Vols (42-16) put runners on base in six of seven innings - including loading the bases with two hits and a walk in the top of the third - but couldn't produce a run.
Florida (48-15) led 2-0 after the first inning, when Kendyl Lindaman's double deep to center field scored Amanda Lorenz - she led off with a walk - and Lindaman went home on Sophia Reynoso's single to left. The Gators got their final run in the fifth on Jaimie Hoover's RBI double.
Aubrey Leach went 2-for-4 to lead Tennessee, which won two of three games against the Gators in Gainesville during the regular season.