KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – With only three SEC series remaining, the fourth-ranked Lady Vols are set to play host to No. 7 LSU this weekend April 19-21 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Tennessee (32-7, 12-3 SEC) continues to sit atop the conference standings as it prepares for the top 10 matchup. This weekend will mark consecutive seasons the Lady Vols and Tigers have met for a three-game series with both teams ranked inside the top 10.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
For more gameday and parking information, visit the softball gameday information page.
Fans please be advised; this weekend's series is sold out with limited standing-room-only tickets available for walkups. Fans are reminded that parking shuttles will be free and available at the Agriculture Campus all weekend. When Stephenson Drive lots are full, fans will be directed to the free Ag Campus Parking and Shuttles on River Drive.
Shuttle information:
Friday, April 19: Beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 20: Beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, April 21: Beginning at 12:30 p.m.
FOLLOW LIVE
Eric Frede (play-by-play), Jessica Mendoza (analyst) and Michele Smith (analyst) will be on the call for all three games this weekend. Friday night's contest will air on SEC Network, with ESPN2 carrying games two and three on Saturday and Sunday.
Fans can listen to Voice of the Lady Vols Brian Rice call the series all weekend long on AM990 or stream through UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics app.
NOTABLE
CONFERENCE SUCCESS
The Lady Vols have won all five SEC series they've played this season, including sweeps of South Carolina and Missouri.
Dating to May 7-8, 2022, UT has won 13 of its 14 SEC series – holding a league record of 34-8. That run includes sweeps of Auburn (2022), Ole Miss, LSU, Kentucky and Florida in 2023, with sweeps of Missouri and South Carolina this season.
WINDICATORS
The Lady Vols are 28-0 this season when leading after four innings. That success follows last season's when UT went 42-1 when holding a lead after four frames.
BOO GIBSON
Junior McKenna "Boo" Gibson has had no shortage of offensive power this season and leads the team with 36 RBIs, 44 hits and a .367 batting average.
With the most plate appearances among the Lady Vols (120), Boo has recorded seven doubles and seven home runs. In SEC play, Gibson is hitting .360 in 50 at-bats with a 1.098 OPS, four doubles, four home runs and 16 RBIs.
RING OF FIRE
Tennessee has been strong all season in the pitcher's circle – headlined by
Karlyn Pickens and
Payton Gottshall. The duo has led the charge for a pitching staff that owns the nation's best ERA at 1.45 and claims 15 shutouts – sixth-best in Division I – and has a 4.63 strikeout-to-walk ratio that is second nationally.
SCOUTING LSU
Head Coach (Record at LSU): Beth Torina (526-228)
2024 Record: 34-8 (10-8 SEC)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 38-29-1
Last Meeting: W, 9-2 on 3/19/23 in Baton Rouge
Key Stat: With a 34-8 overall record, LSU has won only ten of their 18 SEC matchups. The trouble, however, seems to be on the road, as the Tigers are 25-4 at home with notable wins over No. 3 Texas and No. 6 Oklahoma State and have gone 12-4 against ranked opponents. On the flip side, LSU is 6-4 on the road with two SEC series losses.
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols will welcome Belmont to SPL on Tuesday, April 23, for the lone home midweek game of the season.
