KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 13^th-ranked Florida softball team fell, 9-1 (5 innings), to No. 4 Tennessee in the series opener Saturday afternoon at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

The Gators (32-12, 8-8 SEC) battled Tennessee (36-5, 14-2 SEC) in the opening game of the series as the Orange & Blue picked up four hits compared to UT's five and were led at the plate by Skylar Wallace's 2-for-3 day that included a double and her 14^th home run of the season. Sam Roe also went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles.

Tennessee struck first in the opening game of the series when McKenna Gibson lifted a ball to left center field that gave her team a 1-0 lead two outs in the bottom of the 1^st inning.

After a leadoff double in the top of the 1^st inning, Wallace tied the game in the bottom of the 3^rd inning, 1-1, in her next plate appearance with a solo home run off the scoreboard in left center off Ashley Rogers. Payton Gottshall (10-0) entered in relief of Rogers a batter later and forced a popup and a groundout to end any further threat in the frame.

The Lady Vols struck back in the bottom of the 3^rd inning to retake the lead 7-1 thanks to a two-RBI double to right center and a grand slam down the left field line.

Tennessee extended its lead out to 9-1 in the bottom of the 4^th inning of play. Samantha Bender entered in relief of Elizabeth Hightower (14-7) to start the frame but UT managed a hit-by-pitch and a walk before a two-run triple just inside the chalk deep down the right field line scored the pair of runners.

The two teams return to action Sunday, April 23, at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network.

Notables:

• Skylar Wallace extended her hit streak out to nine games after she belted a leadoff double to start the game against Tennessee.
  • Wallace has now reached base safely in 39 of the 40 games she has played in this season.
  • The Woodstock, Ga. native followed up her first at-bat with a solo home run off the scoreboard for her 14^th of the season.
  • She ended the game 2-for-3 today for her 12^th multi-hit game of the season.
• Sam Roe tallied a 2-for-2 day at the plate for her seventh multi-hit game of the season.

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