Sophia Nugent didn't miss another home run in the NCAA area.
The senior catcher hit the moonlight on the left field and fouled on Ohio State the day before, Nugent is ready to finish the job in the regional final against the Buckeyes. At the top of the sixth inning, she waved and flew the ball to the left field.
The ball landed on the left wall on the foul line, bounced on the foul pole and re-worked. Ohio State University questioned the phone, but was confirmed after review.
The call was a crucial call for Tennessee softball, which managed to record three hits only before Nugent's home run. It also broke the game for the seventh-place Seed Lady Vols, after which he scored again with the Laura Diners' RBI doubles.
Tennessee (43-14) added two more runs to Gabby Leach's Solo home run and Saviya Morgan's RBI lap. On May 18, Ms. Vols turned down the Buckeyes 5-0 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, advancing to their third NCAA super area.
Tennessee will face the winners of Nebraska and Southeast Louisiana, who eliminated the No. 10-seed LSU in the super area of Knoxville. Game day and time have not been announced yet.
Sophomore pitcher Sage Mardjetko started with Tennessee (43-14), and she performed well in the Ohio State (45-14-1). She kept the highest ratings on the country’s highest scoring offense, keeping them balanced, like the annual SEC pitcher that Karlyn Pickens did the previous day.
Mardjetko made two walks and two hit percentages in five innings against the Buckeyes, who was caught with her three strikeouts. Pickens got a job in the sixth inning to finish the job, and she failed to hit five strikeouts in two innings to end the victory.
It took longer for the Tennessee offense to heat up in its second showdown with Ohio State pitcher Kennedy Kay. But once Lady Vols still scored eight hits and made three doubles and two home runs. Morgan and the diners led Tennessee with two hits, while Nugent led two RBIs.
Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women's track and field. Send her an email at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on x @corahalll. If you like Cora's coverage, consider a digital subscription that has access to everything.