Virginia Downs Bradley, Falls to No. 7 Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Virginia (5-8) split the final day of play at the Tennessee Classic, downing Bradley, 3-2, before falling to No. 7 Tennessee, 6-2, at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on Monday.
 
GAME 1: Virginia 3, Bradley 2
Virginia rode strong pitching from freshman Aly Rayle (Herndon, Va.) and senior Allyson Frei (Branchville, N.J.) to top Bradley (5-8) by a 3-2 score to open Monday’s action at the Tennessee Classic.
 
Frei (2-3) worked four innings in relief, surrendering an unearned run on three hits to earn the win. The veteran struck out three batters while not issuing a walk over the outing. Virginia never trailed in the game thanks to a two-run home run in the first inning from Lacy Smith (Lancaster, Pa.).

KEY INNING
With a 2-1 lead in the third, Virginia escaped a jam as an infield single and bunt single put the first two aboard in the inning for Bradley. Rayle promptly induced a double-play ball to third and then fanned a Brave to keep the lead intact.
 
TOUCHING HOME
• With a runner aboard in the first, Smith battled back from an 0-2 hole to launch a 2-2 offering high over the left field wall to put Virginia up 2-0.
• Kealia Wysocki pulled Bradley within a single run with a solo home run in the top of the second.
• Hayley Busby (Phoenix, Ariz.) extended Virginia’s lead in the fifth, singling home Bailey Winscott (Clinton, Miss.) to make it 3-1.
• Bradley closed within one again in the sixth, scoring a run on two doubles and a sacrifice fly. Stacia Seeton provided the RBI for the Braves.
 
ON THE LINES
• Rayle made her first collegiate start and tossed three innings, allowing just a single run on three hits. She struck out two in the no decision.
• Molly Keshin (New Canaan, Conn.) notched her eighth steal of the season.
• Busby finished 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI.
 
GAME 2: No. 7 Tennessee 6, Virginia 2
Five runs in the first two innings helped No. 7 Tennessee (12-2) down Virginia in the final game of the Tennessee Classic.
 
Virginia would threaten late, putting runners at second and third with no outs in the fifth, but Matty Moss entered the circle, getting Tennessee out of the jam and keeping the Cavaliers from applying pressure down the stretch.
 
Aly Rayle worked 4 2/3 innings in relief, marking her longest outing in a Virginia uniform. The freshman limited an explosive Tennessee offense to just a single run on four hits.
 
KEY INNING
After the Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead to open the game, Tennessee hung three runs on the board on the strength of three hits. All three Lady Vol hits were singles, but three walks allowed Tennessee to enhance the damage.

TOUCHING HOME
• For the second time on the day, Lacy Smith staked Virginia to an early lead with a first-inning home run.
• Tennessee answered right back in the bottom half, taking the lead with its three-run inning.
• The Lady Vols added a pair in the second inning on three singles before Rayle entered in relief and induced two fly balls to strand the bases loaded.
• An Ally Shipman double and wild pitch in the fourth extended Tennessee’s lead to 6-1.
• Abigail Barber (Providence Forge, Va.) singled in the sixth for Virginia and came around to score on an RBI from Donna Friedman (Orange, Calif.).

ON THE LINES
• Smith’s solo shot was her fifth of the season, one off her total from all of 2018. The RBI was her team-leading 12th of the season.
• Allyson Frei (2-4) was charged with the loss after allowing five runs on six hits.
• Caylan Arnold (5-1) earned the win in the circle for the Lady Vols, working four innings in her start.
• Arizona Ritchie (Stafford, Va.) and Olivia Gott (Weston, Fla.) added hits for the Cavaliers.

UP NEXT
Virginia returns to action with its home opener on Thursday (Feb. 28) against Rutgers at The Park. The Cavaliers then host the Cavalier Classic over the weekend. Admission to all Virginia softball home games is free in 2019.