HUMPHREY AND ELLIS SHACKLE STETSON ON TWO HITS, 2-0

Sunday, February 10

St. Augustine, Fla.

University of Tennessee

5-4-1

Stetson

5-4

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

February 10, 2002 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 10, 2002

Stats?|? Quotes

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.

Lady Vol junior Stephanie Humphrey and sophomore Leigh Ann Ellis combined on a two-hit shutout as Tennessee closed out its participation at the Triple Crown Invitational with a 2-0 blanking of Stetson on Sunday morning. Co-head coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly's club improved to 5-4-1 with the decision and finished fifth at the tournament with a 3-2 record. Humphrey notched the decision to improve to 2-2, while Ellis picked up the first save of her career. Senior Adrianna Wilson broke a scoreless tie in the sixth with a solo homer for UT to begin the scoring.

"It is amazing that once again we went into the seventh with a two-run lead," said Ralph Weekly. "This time our kids vowed they would not be denied. Although I was really pleased with our pitching today, I was most proud of Adrianna Wilson, who willed the win with one of the best individual performances that Karen and I have seen at Tennessee. Stephanie and Leigh Ann did well for us in the clutch as well. Right now, we have about five players performing at a high level. It is incumbent upon all of us to bring the rest of the team up to that level."

In the top of the fifth, Tennessee loaded the bases with two down but came away empty for the eighth consecutive time in the past three days. Senior Maria Torres led off with a single into right field off Hatter pitcher Melanie McElhaney. Ellis then drew a walk, advancing freshman pinch runner Whintey Bradshaw to second. A ground ball by senior pinch hitter Nicole Borg advanced her teammates into scoring position before McElhaney fanned senior Hannah Low for the second out. Stetson intentionally walked junior Blaine Teasley to fill then bases but Lady Vol sophomore Ellisha Humphrey lined out to keep the game scoreless.

UT hurler Stephanie Humphrey held SU hitless until there were two down in the fifth, when Adrienne Broyles poked a single into shallow left field. The right-hander from Knoxville struck out pinch hitter Carolyn Garliepp for her eighth K to end the frame.

McElhaney was replaced by freshman Jennifer Buckley at the outset of the sixth. To that point, the Hatter pitcher had allowed only a pair hits, with six strikeouts and three walks. Wilson greeted the new person in the circle by socking her second home run of the campaign over the left field fence to provide UT with a 1-0 lead. Junior Carissa Roustan followed with a double off the fence and took third on a wild pitch. Torres laced an RBI single into right to plate Roustan with an insurance run for the Orange.

Sophomore pinch hitter Lacey Prince was plunked by Humphrey to begin the sixth and then freshman Christa Collins walked, leaving the Hatters in great shape with none out. The Weeklys made the move to bring Ellis into the circle and the decision would pay off handsomely. A sacrifice bunt off the bat of senior Mariah Cobb put Stetson in position to tie the game but Ellis had junior Holly Burris ground out and junior Emily Harris lined to Rhinehart to preserve the Lady Vols' 2-0 lead.

With a .412 (7-for-17) batting average and a team-best .588 slugging percentage, Wilson was the UT lone selection to the all-tournament squad, representing her second straight weekend on an all-tourney list. The Cypress, Calif., had a hit in every contest, raising her hitting streak to 10 games, a new career high. The Lady Vol record for hitting streak is 19 games, set by Lisa Warren between Feb.14-March 13, 1998.

Tennessee will resume action on Wednesday with a twinbill at Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tenn. The Lady Vols and Lady Govs will meet for the first time since 1996 at 2 p.m. CT.