FLORIDA ATLANTIC SPOILS WEEKLYS' COACHING DEBUT AT UT, 1-0

Friday, February 1

Tampa, Fla.

University of Tennessee

0-1

FAU

2-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Florida Atlantic	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	0
Tennessee	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1

Stephanie Humphrey held FAU hitless through 5.1 innings.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC SPOILS WEEKLYS' COACHING DEBUT AT UT, 1-0

February 01, 2002 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 1, 2002

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla.

Florida Atlantic sophomore Ginny Matthews drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh inning to lift the Owls to a 1-0 victory over the University of Tennessee softball team on Friday afternoon at the Louisville Slugger Tournament at the USF Softball Complex. Although the defeat spoiled the Lady Vol head coaching debuts of Ralph and Karen Weekly, the contest featured a tremendous pitching duel between FAU senior All-American Nicole Myers and UT junior Stephanie Humphrey. An NCAA Regional participant for the past five seasons, Florida Atlantic moved to 2-0 on the young campaign with the triumph.

Humphrey, a right-hander from Knoxville, held the Owls without a hit for 5.1 innings before freshman Christina Thompson laced a single up the middle. That base-hit would be the only one allowed by the junior in the game. Myers, who struck out 403 batters last season and had earlier registered a save in her team's 9-8 triumph over Northwestern today, fanned 11 Lady Vols and scattered five hits in picking up the decision.

"Although I am not pleased with the final score, I am very pleased with our effort today, especially on defense," said Ralph Weekly. "We faced one of the premier pitchers in the country in Nicole Myers, who beat my Chattanooga team (2-1) last season, a game in which we had just one hit. I think we are improved in all areas and hopefully we are laying the groundwork for a strong Tennessee program in the next few years."

UT had a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the bottom of the first, as junior second baseman Blaine Teasley led off with a single to left field in the first game of her Lady Vol career. After senior center fielder Hannah Low fouled out to the catcher on a sacrifice attempt, senior catcher Adrianna Wilson punched a single into left to give the Orange a pair of runners on board. With freshman Amber Rhinehart at the plate, UT pulled off a rare double steal as Teasley and Wilson nabbed second and third base, respectively. Last season, the Orange swiped a program-low 34 bases in 45 attempts. However, Myers would respond by setting down Rhinehart and junior third baseman Carissa Roustan on strikes to end the threat.

After each pitcher cruised through the second and third innings, the Lady Vols created another offensive chance in the bottom of the fourth. Wilson opened the frame by drawing a walk on four pitches before being replaced by freshman pinch runner Whitney Bradshaw. Rhinehart then earned a free pass to put two runners on base with none out. A wild pitch uncorked by Myers advanced Bradshaw and Rhinehart to become potential go-ahead runs but the hurler responded by fanning Roustan and senior first baseman Nicole Borg for two outs. Senior Maria Torres was then sent in as a pinch hitter for sophomore left fielder Leigh Ann Ellis, but the Parana, Argentina, native grounded out to the catcher.

Despite the game remaining scoreless, Humphrey cruised into the sixth having retired 15 consecutive Owls. Even after Thompson had dashed the UT pitcher's bid for the third no-hitter in school history, Humphrey induced pop-outs by seniors Ninya Ybarra and Heather Wright to her sister Ellisha at shortstop to preserve the stalemate. Wilson led off the Tennessee portion of the sixth by smashing a ball to deep center field but was thrown out at second on a beautiful relay throw by FAU center fielder Matthews to Thompson. Myers then retired Rhinehart and Roustan to send the game into the decisive seventh without any runs on the board.

Myers helped her own cause by earning a walk to begin the stanza, prompting the Weeklys to lift Humphrey in favor of sophomore Crystal Bobo. A damaging throwing error by the Lady Vols on a bunt attempt by Candice Freel then left the Owls with runners on the corner and none out. Bobo struck out pinch hitter Michelle Shirah for the initial out before pinch hitter Callie Piper legged out a bunt to fill the bases. Matthews then worked the count to 3-2 before earning ball four to give her squad the lead.

The Weeklys then decided to bring Stephanie Humphrey back into the circle and the move paid off. Freshman Jennifer Sawyer sent a grounder to Ellisha Humphrey at shortstop, who made an acrobatic throw to nail rookie pinch runner Michelle Ryan at the dish for the second out. Thompson would then be set down on a ground ball that went from Stephanie Humphrey to Borg for the final out.

In the home portion of the seventh, UT senior right fielder Nicole Murray ripped a two-out double down the left field line to move the tying run into position. However, Myers would have Ellisha Humphrey ground out to end the contest.

"Both Humphreys were phenomenal for us this afternoon," said Ralph Weekly. "Stephanie matched Myers' pitch-for-pitch into the seventh inning. We made the change after the leadoff walk because Michele (Granger, Lady Vol pitching coach) felt that Stephanie was running out of gas. She came back on empty and still got the last two Florida Atlantic batters to give us a chance. With the bases loaded and one out, I challenged Steph to remember (former Lady Vol track standout and U.S. Olympian) Joetta Clark telling our team 'you gotta go when the tank's on empty.' Ellisha made two super plays at short and came up with a clutch hit for us."

The Lady Vols will next face event host No. 25 South Florida at 7 p.m. The Bulls dropped their 2002 debut with a 6-2 setback to Northwestern (1-1).