CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Meghan Gregg was 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and a run scored Thursday afternoon, helping No. 11 Tennessee to a 7-1 victory over Bethune-Cookman on the Big League Dreams Field in the first of five games for the Wildcats at the 2018 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
 
Bethune-Cookman (5-6) registered five hits against one of the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) best pitchers in the form of Matty Moss.
 
Tennessee (12-1) scored all of its runs across the first four innings.
 
The Lady Vols opened the game with a pair of runs in the top-half of the first inning.
 
Chelsea Seggern singled up the middle past a diving Jacki Smith at shortstop, as the Tennessee third baseman was able to plate teammates Jenna Holcolmb and leadoff hitter Aubrey Leach for the 2-0 advantage.
 
The Tennessee lead swelled to 3-0 in the top of the second inning when Abby Lockman led off the inning with a solo home run to right field.
 
BCU answered with a run of its own in the home half of the frame.
 
Kailey Richard began the Wildcats at-bat with a leadoff double down the line in left, followed by Brianna Sanders' single through the left side. That allowed senior first baseman Iesha Waters to register a sacrifice fly to deep center, as Richard was able to race in from third and cut the BCU deficit at 3-1.
 
After Tennessee added a run in the top of the third, the Lady Vols would use Gregg's three-run homer to left – her team-leading fourth long ball of the campaign, to bring the game to the final 7-1 score.
 
The win went to Tennessee's Moss, upping her record for the year at 6-1. She would work six innings in the pitcher's circle, allowing one run on four hits scattered, two walks and four strikeouts. Meanwhile, the loss went to BCU freshman starter Victoria Guzman (2-4), as the San Jose, California product went just 2.1 innings on the rubber, being touched for four runs on six hits and a walk.
 
Sophomore right-hander Destiny Enriquez finished up the final 4.2 innings in the circle for the Maroon and Gold, giving up three runs on six hits and picking up four strikeouts.
 
BCU was led offensively by five Wildcats with a hit apiece, including California native Mariah Davis from the leadoff spot, as well as fellow California Bryanna Campos and Cheyenne Smith adding to hits from Richard and Sanders, respectfully.
 
Bethune-Cookman faces Oregon State on Thursday evening at 11 p.m. (EST) in the second of two games on the day/night for the Wildcats in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
 
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