University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
6-0
Purdue
4-4
LADY VOL OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT DROPS PURDUE, 12-3
February 18, 2006 | Softball
Feb. 18, 2006
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LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Another day of softball, another delayed start due to slow play and yet another bitterly cold and windy evening in Las Vegas, Nev., as the No. 4 Lady Vol softball team fought back from an early three-run deficit to rout Purdue (4-4), 12-3 (five inn.), at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic. The win improved Tennessee to 6-0 on the season and granted UT a 2-1 all-time series advantage over the Boilermakers.
Designated player Kristi Durant went 2-for-4 with two RBI, sophomore catcher Shannon Doepking delivered a 2-for-2 effort with two RBI, junior shortstop Lindsay Schutzler went 2-of-3 with a pair of RBI and senior center fielder Sarah Fekete also knocked in two runs to guide the offensive attack. Sophomore pitcher Megan Rhodes picked up her third win in the circle this season by working four innings while allowing two runs and three hits with seven K's
Rhodes started in the circle for Tennessee, but two lead-off walks to open the inning summoned co-head coach Ralph Weekly from the dugout and a call to the bullpen. Freshman pitcher Danielle Pieroni was brought on to face the Purdue lineup but promptly allowed a sacrifice fly for an RBI and a two-run home run to Boilermaker right fielder DaQueta Johnson to give Purdue a 3-0, first-inning lead.
The Lady Vols clawed back in the bottom half of the first to cut the advantage to 3-1 as Schutzler led off the inning with a double down the left field line and raced home on an errant throw to first on Fekete's sacrifice slap.
After stemming another minor threat by Purdue in the top of the second, the UT bats erupted in the bottom of the frame for a five-spot to take a 6-3 lead. Consecutive singles by Card, Doepking and freshman second baseman Liane Horiuchi loaded the bases for the Lady Vols. With one out Schutzler was hit by a pitch to plate Card and consecutive two-RBI doubles by Fekete and Durant moved the Big Orange in front by three scores.
With Rhodes back on the mound and in a newfound groove, the Orange & White added to their lead in the third inning as a lead-off single by freshman third baseman paid dividends as Schutzler drove in UT's seventh run on a base knock to deep short.
The fourth inning proved to be another major assault for the Lady Vols as Tennessee rang up another five runs to take an insurmountable 12-3 lead. Durant opened the inning with a single off the end of the bat that ended up right in front of plate. Sophomore first baseman Tonya Callahan reached on a fielder's choice to grant UT a pair of base runners with no outs. That brought up Griffin who delivered an RBI double down the right field line. Doepking immediately followed with a two-bagger of her own to plate Griffin and Callahan, and the rout was on. A pair of Purdue errors on one play allowed Card, who had originally reached on a fielding miscue, to come home with the Lady Vols' final tally.
Rhodes struck out two of the final three batters she faced in the top of the fifth to close out UT's sixth victory of the campaign.
Tennessee is currently facing the Kansas Jayhawks on SLC Field #3 with game-time scheduled for 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rhodes, Megan (3-0)
L: Diana LaRiva (3-1)
Batting:
HR: DaQueta Johnson 1
RBI: Tricia Lilley 1 ; DaQueta Johnson 2
SH: Katie Mitchell 1
SF: Tricia Lilley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Staci Falzon 1 ; Ashley Hall 1 ; DaQueta Johnson 1
SB: Staci Falzon 1
CS: Tiffany Krcelich 1
HBP: Tricia Lilley 1
Batting:
2B: Schutzler, Lindsay 1 ; Fekete, Sarah 1 ; Durant, Kristi 1 ; Griffin, Jennifer 1 ; Doepking, Shannon 1
RBI: Schutzler, Lindsay 2 ; Fekete, Sarah 2 ; Durant, Kristi 2 ; Griffin, Jennifer 1 ; Doepking, Shannon 2
SH: Fekete, Sarah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Schutzler, Lindsay 2 ; Fekete, Sarah 1 ; Brown, Alicia 1 ; Callahan, Tonya 1 ; Griffin, Jennifer 2 ; Doepking, Shannon 2 ; Card, Katherine 2 ; Horiuchi, Liane 1
CS: Fekete, Sarah 1
HBP: Schutzler, Lindsay 1
