University of Tennessee Athletics
Washington Ends Lady Vols' Season at NCAA Regionals
May 22, 1999 | Softball
SEATTLE, Wash. -- The Lady Vol softball team saw its 1999 campaign ended on Friday at the NCAA Region 3 Championship in Seattle, Washington, as Jim Beitia's club was eliminated by top-seeded and sixth-ranked Washington, 12-1, in five innings. The Orange closes its most successful season ever at 44-27 overall with both its first Southeastern Conference Eastern Division title and at-large bid to its credit.
After being jolted by Cal State Fullerton yesterday, 12-1 in five innings, Tennessee fell behind the Huskies and just could not recover. As the designated visiting team at its own Husky Softball Field, Washington came out of the gates quickly. Leadoff hitter Rosie Leutzinger doubled to right off UT senior starter Sarah Ayres to open the contest, and Kelly Hauxhurst followed with a base-hit to give the Huskies a quick 1-0 lead.
However, Ayres pitched out of the jam by fanning Erin Helgeland with the bases full. Senior right fielder Lisa Warren led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single off Washington hurler Jennifer Spediacci but Tennessee could not take advantage of the situation.
The Huskies would go on to score four runs on five hits in the second frame to move in front, 5-0, and chase Ayres in the process. Junior Jackie Beavers came on in relief and managed to have UW leave the sacks full for the second stanza in a row. The Huskies tacked on a couple of more runs in the third, as a single up the middle by Becky Newbry with two down plated Hauxhurst and Leutzinger.
The Lady Vols broke into the scoring column in the third, as junior Nadia Cameron drew a leadoff walk and senior Kelli Glass doubled her over to third. A one-out sacrifice fly to center field by sophomore Maura Mollet allowed Cameron to narrow the deficit to 7-1. Washington closed out the Orange by notching five more runs on six hits to finalize the margin at 12-1.
Despite not being mercy-ruled during the regular-season, the Lady Volunteers suffered a pair of five-inning defeats while in Seattle. Ironically, both setbacks equaled the worst losses in school history - an 11-run margin.
Spediacci went all the way to register her 20th triumph of the season. The only UT hits she allowed were to Glass and Warren. Meanwhile, the Huskies banged out an NCAA Regional-record 17 hits, as Newbry was 4-for-4 with four RBI, Leutzinger was 3-for-3 with four runs, Hauxhurst was 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs, while Kim DePaul, Helgeland and Shannon Walsh were each 2-for-4.
Ayres went 1.1 innings and gave up eight runs and five hits and Beavers went 3.2 frames with nine hits and seven runs. Today also marked the final UT games for eight different seniors: Ayres, Kelli Fitzgerald, Glass, Kenyail Norris, Jenny Steele, Carrie Swinford, Buffy Walker and Warren.
#6 Washington 12, Tennessee 1
(May 21, 1999 at Seattle, Washington)
------------------------------------------------------------ #6 Washington....... 142 05 - 12 17 0 (46-17) Tennessee........... 001 00 - 1 2 1 (44-27) ------------------------------------------------------------ WP-Spediacci(20-8) LP-Ayres(17-12) T-1:46 A-1275 Tennessee is eliminated by top-seeded Washington. Lady Vols finish most successful season ever at 44-27 with two NCAA losses. UT closes 1999 on four-game losing skid (Arkansas twice, Fullerton, UW). Washington's Jennifer Spediacci picks up 20th victory of campaign.
