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HIGHLIGHTS:
• Lauren Gaskill picked up two hits, including a home run
• Jessie Mehr drove in a run with a single in the fourth inning
• Kylie McGoldrick’s double in the fifth inning drove in a run

BLACKSBURG - A six-run fifth inning helped lift the 12th-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols to a 13-4 win in six innings over the Virginia Tech softball team Wednesday evening at Tech Softball Park.

The Lady Vols (32-11) got on the board first, scoring a pair of runs on a long home run from Taylor Koenig to straightaway center field, her 13th of the season. The Hokies got those runs back in the third inning when Bailey Liddle singled and pinch runner Whitney Saunders scored on Lauren Gaskill’s home run off the scoreboard.

In the fourth inning, the Lady Vols struck again with the long ball as Scarlet McSwain blasted a solo shot down the left field line. Tech once again responded to tie it up, as Jessie Mehr’s single down the line plated Kelsey Mericka from second base in the fifth inning. Tennessee broke it open in the fifth inning, plating six runs to make it 9-3 as McSwain’s three-run shot highlighted the frame.

The Hokies didn’t give up as Kylie McGoldrick’s double to the gap drove in Breanna Davenport in the fifth inning, who reached on an error. Tennessee got that run back on an RBI groundout in the sixth inning to stretch the lead back to six runs. Lexi Overstreet hit the Lady Vols’ fourth home run of the game, a three-run blast to left field.

At the plate, Gaskill led the way with a pair of hits, including her fourth home run of the season. Mehr, McGoldrick, Michelle Prong, Vanessa Gonzalez and Liddle each had one.

In the circle, Maggie Tyler (L, 14-8) went 4 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs on six hits - three of which were home runs - with four walks and four strikeouts. Kelly Heinz faced four batters, walking three and hitting one to allow another run before she was pulled. Mikaela Aiken went the final 1 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on two hits with three walks and a strikeout.

Tennessee was the highest-ranked non-conference opponent to play in Blacksburg since No. 11 Houston came to town in 2008. The Hokies won that game 1-0. It also marked the first time in the series history (18 games) that the Lady Vols played in Blacksburg.

Tech (29-11) will travel to Lynchburg take on Liberty Thursday in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. and then heads to Pittsburgh for a critical three-game ACC series this weekend against the Panthers.

For updates on Virginia Tech softball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_Softball