Michael Allen 
Alannah Leach (10) celebrates with her teammates after hitting her first career home run in the Lady Vols' 8-0 win over Florida Atlantic
SEO Meta Description: Tennessee softball shut out No. 24 Florida Atlantic 8-0 in run-rule fashion behind strong pitching from Maddi Rutan and Karlyn Pickens and a balanced offensive attack.
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers softball continued their dominant start to the season Saturday afternoon, rolling past the Florida Atlantic Owls softball 8-0 in run-rule fashion. The victory marked Tennessee’s fifth shutout to open the year, showcasing both elite pitching and timely offense.
Early Pressure Sets the Tone
Tennessee wasted no time getting on the board. Maddi Rutan quickly retired the Owls in the top of the first, and the Lady Vols’ offense followed with immediate production.
Sophia Knight singled to lead off and used aggressive baserunning — including two stolen bases — to reach third. Gabby Leach later scored Knight during a stolen-base attempt that resulted in a throwing error. Moments later, Ella Dodge drove in another run on a groundout to give Tennessee an early 2-0 advantage.
Rutan Works Through Early Threat
Rutan navigated her toughest inning in the second when Florida Atlantic put runners on first and second with two outs. A single followed, but Tennessee cut down the lead runner at the plate to end the threat and preserve the shutout.
Both teams were quiet through the third inning, and Rutan continued to keep the Owls off balance into the fourth.
Lady Vols Break It Open
Tennessee extended the lead in the fourth behind a surge of offensive production. Alannah Leach and Emma Clarke opened the inning with back-to-back hits to spark the rally.
After Rutan was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Makenzie Butt drew a walk to force in a run. Knight followed with an RBI single, and Gabby Leach added a sacrifice fly to stretch the lead to 5-0.
Pickens Slams the Door
Rutan returned for the fifth but after hitting the leadoff batter, Tennessee turned to ace Karlyn Pickens. Pickens allowed just one hit and quickly shut down the Owls’ offense.
The Lady Vols added insurance in the bottom half when Alannah Leach blasted a two-run home run down the right-field line, pushing the lead to 7-0.
Walk-Off Run Seals It
Needing just one more run to end the game early, Tennessee delivered in the next inning. Gabby Leach singled to start the rally, and Elsa Morrison followed with a base hit to move the lineup along.
Dodge then lined a single to right field, bringing home the final run and sealing the 8-0 run-rule victory.
Dominant Start Continues
With another shutout performance and contributions throughout the lineup, Tennessee continues to show why it’s one of the most dangerous teams in the country. Eight games into the season, the Lady Vols’ pitching staff and explosive offense are already setting a powerful tone for the year ahead.
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