KNOXVILLE – Jacksonville State dropped a pair of contests to open the Tennessee Classic on Saturday, falling 1-0 to Belmont and 9-0 to No. 6 Tennessee.
 
JSU's (10-6) showdown with the nationally-ranked Lady Vols (13-1) was the fifth meetings between the two programs. With the win, UT now leads the all-time series, 3-2, for the first time since 2009.
 
The Lady Vols limited JSU to just a pair of hits in what became the their eighth-straight shutout. JSU's Lauren Hunt and Brantly Bonds found their way aboard late in the contest to snap UT's opportunity at a second no-hitter of the day after their early game against Appalachian State.
 
Sophomore Kat Carter was tagged with her first loss of the season from the circle after allowing five runs in 1.1 innings. A two-out grounded right back up the middle and through the legs of Carter allowed the first two Lady Vols to score. Carter was knocked around for two more extra-base hits to begin the second, including a 2-run homer that signaled the end of her night. Sophomore Sarah Currie entered in relief with one-away in the second, but arrived to the same treatment as UT proceeded with two more long balls in the inning to make it 8-0 by the third frame.
 
Freshman Jordan Eslinger settled in for the final 1.2 innings of work to finish with a clean slate of zero hits and one strikeout.  
 
Earlier in the day, Belmont's Maya Johnson stymied the Gamecocks at the plate as well on her way to 14 strikeouts to lead BU to a 1-0 victory to open the weekend.
 
The Gamecocks return to action at Lee Stadium early on Sunday with a 8:30 CT game time against Appalachian State, followed immediately by a rematch with the Lady Vols.