Why Alannah Leach is key to Tennessee softball's offensive resurgence

Why Alannah Leach is key to Tennessee softball's offensive resurgence

Tennessee softball is finding its footing again on offense, and junior outfielder Alannah Leach is a big reason why.

Leach leads the team in batting average in SEC play, hitting .350 with a team-high six home runs. In conference games, she's tied for first with her twin sister, Gabby, for most RBIs (11), and has struck out just four times in 18 games.

Leach didn't waste any time sparking the offense in the No. 9 Lady Vols' 10-3 win in the series finale April 13 against Kentucky (24-22, 1-17 SEC) at John Cropp Stadium, hitting a two-run homer in the first inning. She hit a second home run in the second inning.

Leach went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, three RBIs, two home runs and a walk in Game 3 as Tennessee completed the sweep, their second in SEC play. It was her fourth multi-hit game in the past seven games.

"I just kept telling myself to keep it simple, trusting my process and my plan of just going up to bat, seeing the ball, hitting the ball, and trusting my instincts when I'm up there," Leach said.

The Lady Vols (37-6, 12-6) started SEC play with a sweep of LSU at home behind explosive offensive performances. But then they struggled at the plate, dropping their series against Florida and Ole Miss.

Tennessee slowly got back on track the past eight games, and it had a big weekend in Lexington, outscoring the Wildcats 21-3.

Leach has the highest on-base percentage of all the starters in SEC play (.409) and the highest slugging percentage (.658). What makes her performances even more impressive lately is the fact that she's nursing a minor injury. During the series against Ole Miss, she had a minor collision with the Rebels' first baseman.

While there's no damage, her knee isn't at 100% and she was in the lineup as the designated player during the Kentucky series instead of left field, where she usually starts.

Tennessee coach Karen Weekly started her in left field during the April 2-4 South Carolina series, but moved her to designated player late in Game 3 after "something funky" happened on a play when she had to plant and cut quickly in the outfield.

"She's just seeing the ball well, and I'm hoping me not giving her another at-bat didn't cost her something," Weekly said April 13. "And she's been doing it when she's nursing an injury. And that's what's so cool, is it's not affecting her hitting at all. And she's been a real spark for us, and just coming through big time, at a time we needed it the most."

Leach has started 25 of her 42 appearances and is hitting .354 overall with 22 runs scored, 10 home runs, 19 RBIs and nine walks.

Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social‬. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How Alannah Leach is sparking Tennessee softball's offense