Caylan Arnold of UT Lady Vols shuts out LSU in SEC softball tournament; Florida next

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Tennessee pitcher Caylan Arnold had smothered LSU’s offense for more than six innings, so it was fitting the final out that sent the Lady Vols to the SEC softball tournament semifinals ended up in her glove.

Arnold caught Amber Serrett’s popup in the circle to seal a 1-0 victory for Tennessee (45-11) in the quarterfinals Thursday, avenging two straight years of tournament runs ending at the hands of the Tigers (41-14).

The Lady Vols will play top-seeded Florida (48-8), a 5-2 winner over No. 8 Alabama late Thursday, in the tournament semifinals at 5:30 p.m. ET Friday.

Last year, LSU beat Tennessee in the quarterfinals. In 2015, the Tigers beat the Lady Vols in the semifinals.

More: UT Lady Vols: Starting pitchers, No. 2 spot in lineup, NCAA tournament seeding

Lady Vols are 4-0 against LSU this season

Thursday’s victory completed a total script reversal this season. Tennessee went 4-0 against LSU this season, having swept the Tigers over three games in Knoxville from April 13-14.

“We knew they had us marked because the way the series went this year,” Lady Vols co-head coach Karen Weekly said. “Every game in Knoxville was really close, could have gone either way. … It’s just always really tough when you play them. I’m not surprised at all it was a low-scoring event.”

Arnold, the sophomore from Maryville, spun a gem, allowing three hits and striking out four in a shutout.

“Caylan was all about some competitiveness and grit today. We love playing behind her when she’s like that,” UT senior shortstop Meghan Gregg said. “You can just see it in her eyes — there’s just fire and grit in her eyes, and I think that’s what we fed off of.”

Gregg drove in the game’s only run in the first inning. Aubrey Leach singled in Tennessee’s first at-bat of the game, then took off for second on a two-and-one count with Gregg at the plate. Gregg smashed a line drive off the right- field fence.

Weekly said co-head coach Ralph Weekly called a perfectly timed hit-and-run on the play, which allowed Leach to score all the way from first.

“Sometimes those things work and make you look like a genius,” Karen Weekly said.

Arnold spread out LSU’s hits over three innings. LSU got its leadoff hitter, Aliyah Andrews, to third base with one out in the first, but Arnold forced back-to-back infield popups to prevent the Tigers from taking an early lead.

Then with one out in the seventh, LSU pinch-hitter Elyse Thornhill sent a fly ball to right field. Center fielder CJ McClain caught the ball on a sprint before crashing into the outfield wall, saving an extra-base hit.

Daniel Jones is a freelance contributor.