Elsa Morrison and Emma Clarke each hit solo home runs as the Tennessee Lady Volunteers defeated the Northern Kentucky Norse 3-1 in the opening game of the Knoxville Regional of the NCAA softball tournament Friday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Tennessee.

Tennessee broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning when Clarke sent a solo shot to center field. The Lady Volunteers' offense was powered by Morrison, who went 2-for-3 with a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning. Sophia Knight also had a multihit game, going 2-for-4 and scoring a run. Gabby Leach provided a key insurance run with an RBI double in the sixth. Pitcher Erin Nuwer allowed just one hit and one unearned run over seven innings while striking out seven and walking one.

Northern Kentucky struggled to generate offense against Nuwer, managing only a single hit for the entire game. That hit came from Lexy Morris, who finished 1-for-3. The Norse tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the sixth when Victoria Flores scored on an error, with Kenzie Gulley credited with the RBI. Starting pitcher Alicia Flores pitched a complete game for the Norse, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and two home runs over six innings of work. She recorded one strikeout and issued three walks.

The game was a 1-0 pitcher's duel until the sixth inning. After the Norse tied the score in the top of the frame, Morrison immediately answered with a leadoff home run to left field in the bottom half to put Tennessee back in front 2-1. Later in the inning, Knight singled, stole second and scored on Leach's double to deep left-center, extending the lead to 3-1. Nuwer then retired the side in order in the seventh to secure the victory.

Up next: Regional play in the NCAA softball tournament continues Saturday.

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