FLORIDA HOLDS OFF LADY VOLS, 7-6, TO SWEEP DOUBLEHEADER

Thursday, April 25

Knoxville, Tenn.

University of Tennessee

33-24-1, 8-16

Florida

31-30, 11-15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Florida	0	0	0	4	2	1	0	7	13	3
Tennessee	0	0	2	0	3	0	1	6	8	2

FLORIDA HOLDS OFF LADY VOLS, 7-6, TO SWEEP DOUBLEHEADER

April 25, 2002 | Softball

Box Score

April 25, 2002

Box Score

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.

After exploding for 15 runs on 14 hits in its opener against the Lady Vols on Thursday, Florida's offense kept hitting on all cylinders in the nightcap, banging out 13 more hits en route to a 7-6 conquest of host Tennessee. With the twinbill sweep, the Gators (31-30/11-15 SEC) effectively reduced UT's (33-24-1/8-16 SEC) chances at reaching the Southeastern Conference Tournament. UF has now taken eight of the last nine meetings in the series entering tomorrow afternoon's finale.

"The kids played hard in the second game and I was proud of them," exclaimed co-head coach Ralph Weekly. "The problem for us is definitely pitching, not Stephanie Humphrey's effort, but pitching as a whole. To illustrate the significance, Florida got three unearned runs in its three-game series last weekend against South Carolina. Today, they scored 22 runs in two games against us. Normally, for us to put up three runs (in game one), and especially six runs, is enough to win a ballgame."

"Even though we might not make the SEC Tourney, I am proud of our team's 33 wins. Considering that this is the same team from last season, minus the top four hitters, two of three pitchers, and the top pitching who failed to make grades to enter UT. This has been a learning year for us and we are committed to being better in every phase of the game in 2003."

Freshman Mandy Schuerman and sophomore Jenilee Garner stroked consecutive singles in the top of the first to put Florida in a prime position against junior Stephanie Humphrey. However, the right-hander would strike out sophomore Mylin Prieto and senior Katy Berger for two down in the frame, although a passed ball enabled the runners to move up to second and third. The hurler kept the Gators off the board by fanning junior Prissie Walden.

Tennessee opened the scoring for the second straight game when freshman Amber Rhinehart lined an RBI double into left field with two out in the third inning to drive in senior Nicole Murray. Murray had reached on a throwing error by the pitcher and advanced to second when the ball landed out of play. A ground ball by sophomore Ellisha Humphrey pushed her teammate to third before the two-bagger allowed the run to score. Junior Blaine Teasley followed with a run-scoring single up the middle to plate Rhinehart with the Lady Vols' second score of the frame.

The Gators answered with four runs on six hits and an error in the top of the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. Junior Jackie Marchetta started things off with a double to left and raced down to third on a passed ball. Junior Bree Berger drew a walk and swiped second, leaving the Gators with two more runners in scoring position. Junior Jen Mossadeghi rifled an RBI single into center field to score Marchetta but Berger was nailed at the plate on a bullet from Ellisha Humphrey to Wilson. Undeterred, UF struck again when sophomore Stacy Rosen's single tied the game at 2-2 as Mossadeghi came across. Another base-hit by Schuerman gave the visitors runners on the corners and Rosen would later score when UT committed an error as Schuerman stole second base. The hit parade continued when Garner punched an RBI single into right field, but Humphrey struck out Katy Berger and Walden to keep the Lady Vols within two runs.

A Tennessee error in the fifth paved the way for Florida to put leadoff batter Marchetta on pace. After her teammate stole second base, Bree Berger's infield hit once again put runners on the corners for UF. Although Wilson's relay throw to Ellisha Humphrey would catch Berger attempting to steal second, Marchetta scored on the play. Humphrey then issued consecutive walks to Mossadeghi, Rosen and Schuerman to fill the bases with one down. Garner delivered a sacrifice fly to left to increase Florida's bulge to 6-2 and Stephanie Humphrey retired Prieto on a line drive to her sister Ellisha.

The Orange and White fought back in the bottom of the stanza by tallying three runs on a couple of hits to pull within 6-5. Teasley smacked a one-out single up the middle and Wilson earned a free pass, giving the hosts a pair of runners on base. A fielding error by the Gators on a ball hit by senior Hannah Low allowed Teasley to score before senior Maria Torres came through with a clutch two-RBI double to drive in Low and sophomore pinch runner Crystal Bobo.

Florida head coach Karen Johns then replaced Moore with freshman Brittani Houghton. The reliever walked senior pinch hitter Nicole Borg and bounced back by having senior Nicole Murray's fielder's choice force Torres at third base for the second out. With Stephanie Humphrey at the plate, Houghton let loose a wild pitch to move UT's runners to second and third. The rookie righty struck out her counterpart to preserve Florida's tenuous one-run advantage.

Marchetta provided the Gators with some breathing room with two down in the sixth when she launched her second home run of the day to right center for a 7-5 UF lead. Low countered with a solo shot in the seventh that landed on Alcoa Highway to slice Florida's advantage to 7-6 but the Lady Vols could not move closer.

Garner was a perfect 3-for-3 for the Gators, while Rhinehart and Teasley were each 2-for-4 for the hosts. Humphrey struck out 11 but surrendered 13 hits and seven runs (six earned) to fall to 22-18 on the campaign. Moore (11-12) picked up the victory by working 4.1 innings, while Houghton earned her second save with 2.2 effective innings of relief. The teams will face one another at 1 p.m. tomorrow in the SEC-TV Game of the Week.