NO. 1 TENNESSEE SWEEPS DOUBLEHEADER FROM SPIRITED LIBERTY, 4-0

Monday, March 26

Knoxville, Tenn.

University of Tennessee

35-2

Liberty

15-14

Liberty

Tennessee

NO. 1 TENNESSEE SWEEPS DOUBLEHEADER FROM SPIRITED LIBERTY, 4-0

March 26, 2007 | Softball

Box Score

March 26, 2007

Box Score | Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Make it 10 wins in a row and counting for the No. 1 Tennessee Lady Vol softball team (35-2) as another shutout by senior Monica Abbott (28-1) and RBIs from senior Lindsay Schutzler (3-for-3), junior Tonya Callahan (1-for-3) and freshman Anita Manuma helped guide the Big Orange to a 4-0 victory in the second game to sweep a Monday evening doubleheader from a determined Liberty squad (15-14) at Tyson Park. The victory was the 73rd consecutive non-conference regular-season triumph for the Lady Vols dating back to March 4, 2005.

Schutzler was certainly the offensive superstar during game two as the career leader in hits at Tennessee registered three more in a 3-for-3 effort with two runs scored and an RBI. Callahan and Manuma each knocked in a tally on a single, while senior left fielder India Chiles, junior catcher Shannon Doepking (4-for-5 in the doubleheader), freshman right fielder Erinn Webb, sophomore shortstop Liane Horiuchi and junior third baseman Kenora Posey each tallied one of UT's nine hits offensively.

Abbott continued to impress from the circle with another complete game shutout victory to improve to 28-1 for the year. With 13 more K's in the second contest versus Liberty, Abbott now stands just 153 strikeouts (2,113) from eclipsing the NCAA Division I career K record currently held by former Texas hurler Cat Osterman (2,265).

"I thought that Liberty was one of the best hitting teams we have faced all year," Lady Vol co-head coach Ralph Weekly said. "Now we all know why they have beaten ranked teams such as Hawaii, Baylor and Michigan. We really respect their style of play. Monica Abbott was very good tonight in the circle for us as was Megan Rhodes. It's nice to get 20 hits in a doubleheader. Shannon Doepking continued her torrid hitting, and both Lindsay Schutzler and India Chiles got key hits for our team when we needed them."

After Abbott retired the Lady Flames with little offensive fanfare in the top of the first, Chiles started the UT attack with a lead-off single to deep short. The Louisville, Ky., native stole second to achieve scoring position and came across to score Tennessee's initial run on a sharp single up the middle by Schutzler for a 1-0 lead. Standing at first following the base knock, the Monterey, Calif., product made a heads-up play by advancing all the way from first to third on a routine groundout to third by Callahan. The smart move paid immediate dividends as Liberty pitcher Sarah Ellis uncorked a wild pitch allowing Schutzler to cross the dish and improve the count to 2-0.

The Lady Flames posted a two-out base runner in both the first and second innings, but failed to get a key hit necessary to create any noise on the scoreboard. Third baseman Courtney Johnson christened the bottom of the third with a single to right field, but didn't advance any further as shortstop J'nae Jefferson struck out, second baseman Dawn Jeffs hit into a fielder's choice at second and left fielder Shannon McKain grounded out to UT's Horiuchi at short to retire the side.

Following the offensive fireworks in the first, Tennessee's Posey got the bottom of the third off to a racing start with a perfect slap single that bounced over the head of Johnson at third forcing the fielder to make a running backhand grab to keep the sphere out of left field. The runner took off for second but was ruled to have left first base early marking the initial retirement of the frame. The call was the second against the Lady Vols in two innings as freshman right fielder Erinn Webb was also rung up for leaving early on a steal attempt in the second. That call took any steam out of the inning as Chiles and Kajitani both grounded out to conclude the frame.

Liberty center fielder Jessica Moore began the top of the fourth with a lead-off rip into center for LU's third hit of the match-up. Abbott settled down after allowing the single to strikeout catcher Ashley Williams and first baseman Beth Bennett for two quick outs. Doepking, UT's "Cannon" behind the dish, cleaned the base paths of Lady Flames and ended the inning by easily gunning down Moore at second on a steal attempt.

Bidding for more runs on the scoreboard, Schutzler blasted a single up the middle to open Tennessee's half of the fourth. She swiped second to reach scoring position with the red-hot hitting Doepking stepping into the batter's box. The Acton, Calif., native drove her fourth hit of the doubleheader into center fielder granting Schutzler the opportunity to round third with thoughts of plating UT's third run. A perfect throw from Moore in center to Williams behind the dish was in time to nail the runner and register the second out. Webb grounded out back to the circle as Ellis made the routine play to first to keep the contest at 2-0, Big Orange.

A one-out single by Horiuchi and an errant throw to first following a dropped third strike during Posey's at-bat granted Tennessee runners at the corners with just one out. Posey advanced into scoring position on a stolen base, but Kajitani grounded back to Ellis in the circle to leave the duo stranded on the basepaths.

After Jefferson struck out versus Abbott to christen the top of the sixth, Jeffs singled into right center to bestow Liberty a one out base runner. McKain went down swinging for the 6-3 left hander's 11th K of the contest before Moore was intentionally walked to get to Williams. The plot thickened as the LU catcher drew a free pass to load the bases with Bennett stepping to the dish with the chance to be the heroine. Fortunately for Tennessee, Bennett swung and missed at a rise ball for strike three to become Abbott's 12th strikeout victim and leave the bases juiced.

Needing some insurance for the two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth, Schutzler blasted a double into left center and was followed immediately by a Callahan two-bagger into right center to register Tennessee's third run of the contest. The RBI was the 24th for the Holden, Mo., native on the season. Doepking continued her outstanding day at the plate by drawing a walk against Ellis, and Webb followed with a clean base knock through the right side of the infield to load the bags with still no one retired. Redshirt freshman designated player Allison Fulmer hit into a fielder's choice that cut down the runner at home for the first out. Manuma grounded a ball to third that Johnson bobbled briefly before recovering to handle the out herself at third for a fielder's choice. During the play, junior pinch runner Caitlin Ryan crossed the plate to grant UT a 4-0 advantage. Rookie pinch hitter Alexia Clay flied out to center to end the frame, but the Lady Vols added two very important tallies to their lead.

With win number 28 in her sights, Abbott induced a line out to Callahan at first by designated player Sarah Swor for the initial out. Hensley swung and dribbled a ball just in front of the plate that found a tough spot between the catcher Doepking and Posey racing in from third for an infield single. Liberty's Johnson blasted a long shot into deep right field that forced Webb back almost to the wall in order to make an outstanding leaping grab for out number two. Abbott closed the match-up in style by punching out Jefferson for her 13th K.

No. 1 Tennessee will next be in action against Western Kentucky on Wednesday evening at Tyson Park starting at 5 p.m. ET. Live stats will be available through utladyvols.com on Gametracker, and periodic updates will be provided to the Lady Vol Hotline at 865-974-8700 (box #6). The second match-up will be broadcast live on The Sports Animal (99.1, 99.3 FM, 990 AM, Yahoo Sports through utladyvols.com).