No. 6 UT Edges Kentucky 2-0 in Finale

Sunday, March 16

Knoxville, Tenn.

University of Tennessee

25-4, 3-3

Kentucky

12-10, 1-2

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

March 16, 2008 | Softball

Box Score

Box Score??|??Photos??

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ??? The No. 6 Tennessee softball team (25-4, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) claimed its first conference series victory of the season Sunday afternoon, recording a 2-0 triumph over Kentucky (12-10, 1-2 SEC) in the second game of a doubleheader at the Sherri Parker Lee Softball Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. Senior Kenora Posey paced the Lady Vols??? offensive efforts, going 2-for-2 on the afternoon with a pair of singles, a walk, two stolen bases and a run scored.
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Wildcat designated player Samantha DeMartine put a scare into the Big Orange faithful with two outs in the top of the seventh, driving a potential game-tying shot over the left-field fence. It sailed just foul, however, and senior Megan Rhodes got her to fly out to right two pitches later to end the game. With the complete-game win, Rhodes moved to 11-2 overall and picked up her second SEC victory of the season. The Nashville, Tenn. native allowed just five hits in seven innings, striking out seven in the process.
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???Both Karen (co-head coach) and I were really happy with the wins today,??? Lady Vol co-head coach Ralph Weekly said.?? ???I thought Kentucky played us tough.?? I never realized that taking a .400 hitter out of the line-up would affect our offense as much as it seemed to this weekend.?? I thought they pitched around Tonya Callahan, yet we had a couple of players meet the challenge and drive in critical runs for us.?? The pitchers threw pretty well, and the defense played well.?? We just left too many runners on base in the series.???
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The Orange & White were again forced to play short-handed with senior Shannon Doepking and her 25 RBIs sitting out today???s doubleheader following a concussion she sustained in last Wednesday???s doubleheader versus Tennessee State.
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???We???re really proud of Tonya Callahan breaking the all-time RBI record of former Lady Vol All-American Kristi Durant in today???s opener,??? Tennessee co-head coach Karen Weekly said.?? ???That is such a huge achievement, and she is such as strong, clutch player for our team.?? Ralph and I are also pleased with Tiffany Huff???s clutch hitting today, and thought Megan Rhodes pitched really well with the game on the line.???
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After UT got out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the third, the Lady Vols struck first in the bottom half as part of another two-out rally.?? Senior third baseman Tonya Callahan walked to open the assault.?? Freshman first baseman Jen Lapicki grounded slowly to second, but the ball took a wicked bounce for Kentucky???s Natalie Smith as she committed a crucial fielding miscue.?? With the inning allowed to continue, junior left fielder Danielle Pieroni delivered an RBI single back up the middle as Callahan raced home from second for a 1-0 lead.?? Entering today???s doubleheader finale, the Lady Vols were 20-1 when tallying the game???s first run.?? Sophomore right fielder Erinn Webb walked against Matousek to load the bases for sophomore center fielder Anita Manuma.?? The Ewa Beach, Hawai???i native bounced a promising shot back up the middle, but UK second baseman Smith corralled the ball on the run and tossed just in time to shortstop Molly Johnson covering the second base bag to leave three stranded.
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Rhodes retired the Wildcats in order in the top of the fourth to bring the Big Orange back to the dish in the bottom half of the frame looking to add to its advantage.??
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Posey walked to christen the fourth inning and immediately began putting pressure on the UK defense with her blistering speed.?? The Los Angeles, Calif., native swiped second to reach scoring position.?? She then took off for third and made it safely as the throw from Kentucky catcher Megan Yocke sailed into left field allowing Posey to cross for a 2-0 Lady Vol advantage.
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Wildcat right fielder Audrey Meyer broke a string of seven consecutive batters retired by Rhodes with a two-out single into left center in the top of the fifth.?? UT???s 5-8 hurler struck Johnson with a 2-2 pitch to place the potential tying run on base for designated player Samantha DeMartine.?? After working the count full, the Kentucky batter popped up to the right side as Orange & White sophomore second baseman Nicole Kajitani squeezed the sphere for a huge out number three.??
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Callahan opened the bottom of the fifth by coercing a walk from UK???s Matousek and was replaced immediately on the base paths by freshman pinch runner Kelsey Stander.?? Following a Lady Vol strikeout, Pieroni received the eighth walk issued by the Wildcat hurler in the match-up placing runners on first and second with just one retired.?? Webb worked to 2-0 before Matousek found the plate with a called strike.?? The Hemet, Calif., native blooped the next offering she received into short left field for a single as Stander was forced to hold up at third.?? Manuma popped up into foul territory outside of third, but the potential catch was dropped for an error by third baseman Katie McCarty.?? The UK fielder made up for her miscue by corralling a ground ball from Manuma and throwing home to force the runner at the plate.?? Kentucky catcher Yocke threw on to first to complete an inning ending double play.
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Summoned into the contest in relief of starter Rhodes, freshman Ashton Ward walked left fielder Destinee Mordecai and was immediately removed from the game in favor of the original UT hurler.?? Yocke dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt to third base to advance the runner.?? Rhodes walked McCarty to place two on the base paths with just one retired.?? UK first baseman Ashley Dimkich worked the count to 2-2 before swinging at strike three.?? Meagan Aull flew out to Pieroni in left field to leave the duo stranded and maintain Tennessee???s 2-0 advantage.
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Bidding for some valuable insurance up just two runs, Posey beat out an infield single leading off the bottom of the sixth.?? Grieve bounced a ball to short and almost beat out the throw from Johnson, but was retired for the first out.?? The runner advanced to third on a groundout off the bat of sophomore second baseman Nicole Kajitani.?? That brought Huff to the dish in a big spot, but she bounced harmlessly to third base leaving the runner stranded.
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Down to a last opportunity in regulation, Kentucky???s Smith started the inning by flying out down the left field line to Pieroni.?? Meyer delivered a base knock just in front of Manuma in center to bring the potential tying run to the plate in the form of UK???s leading hitter Johnson.?? She hit the ball solidly but right at Pieroni in left for the second out of the frame.?? DeMartine managed to work the count full and fouled a pitch straight back before blasting the shot deep down the left field line that drifted just foul of becoming the tying home run.?? She eventually popped out to Webb in foul ground down the right field line to secure the series win for the Lady Vols.????????????????????????????????
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After wrapping up Sunday???s doubleheader with Kentucky, its back to the road for the Big Orange as No. 6 Tennessee travels to Columbia, S.C., for a mid-week doubleheader against South Carolina on Wed., March 19, at 3 p.m. ET.?? Live stats will be available through utladyvols.com and, as always, periodic updates of the UT game will be recorded on the Lady Vol Hotline (865-974-8700, box #6).