Ward Ks 9 in 1-0 win over Tech

Wednesday, March 5

Knoxville, Tenn.

University of Tennessee

20-1

Tennessee Tech

8-12-1

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

March 05, 2008 | Softball

Box Score

Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ??? A clutch fifth-inning, RBI double from senior third baseman Tonya Callahan plated the game???s lone run as No. 4 Tennessee improved to 20-1 on the season by defeating Tennessee Tech, 1-0, on a cold Wednesday night at the Lee Softball Stadium.

Callahan delivered the lone RBI of the match-up, but sophomore right fielder Tiffany Huff led the offense with two singles as part of a 2-for-3 effort at the plate.?? Senior shortstop Kenora Posey stole two bases to give her a team-best 18 on the season and plated the game???s lone tally.

Freshman hurler Ashton Ward improved to 12-1 on the year by throwing six innings of two-hit ball in relief with a career-high-tying nine strikeouts.

???My hat???s off to Tennessee Tech,??? Lady Vol co-head coach Ralph Weekly said.?? ???I was not pleased at all with our effort or execution.?? I think we were fortunate to win the game.?? We may be looking ahead to SEC play, but Tech is a very good team with a very good coach.?? We should have been more fired up to play tonight.?????

Tech immediately started a one out threat in the top of the first inning.?? The Golden Eagles took advantage of a walk issued by senior starter Megan Rhodes and a wild pitch as third baseman Katie Speiser moved into scoring position at second base.?? Rhodes struck out left fielder Kaleigh Gates for the second retirement of the frame.?? The Tennessee coaching staff decided to intentionally walk Tech???s leading home run hitter Stephanie Fischer and the move paid off.?? Second baseman Lacie Coquerille worked the count full at 3-2 before popping up into foul ground down the right field line to leave a pair stranded.

Posey drew a walk and swiped second to get the UT offense off to a positive start in the bottom of the first.?? Freshman second baseman Chandra Mogan dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt out in front of the dish to move the runner within 60 feet of scoring.?? Callahan hit a pitch from Tech hurler Sarah Street off the end of her bat that rolled towards short.?? Golden Eagle shortstop Beth Boden was playing shallow and charged the slow bouncer making the grab on the run.?? She thought of throwing to first but managed to catch Posey attempting to dive back into third for a big second out.?? Senior catcher Shannon Doepking walked to place runners at first and second, but the threat had lost momentum as the frame ended via a swinging strikeout.

A leadoff free pass issued to start the top of the second brought the end to Rhodes??? day as the coaching staff made the early call to the bullpen to summon in Ward.?? The Charlotte, N.C., native settled down the contest immediately by retiring, not only the three batters she faced in the second, but also three Tech hitters in a row in the third with three combined strikeouts.

After UT wasted a leadoff single from Huff in the fourth, Posey opened a one out rally in the bottom of the fifth by drawing her second walk of the contest.?? Following a punch out for the second retirement of the frame, Callahan blooped a shot into short right center that dropped in between three diving Tech players for a run scoring double as UT grabbed a 1-0 lead.

The Golden Eagles attempted to come up with an immediate answer for Tennessee???s tally in the top of the sixth.?? Speiser opened the frame with a double down the left field line that rolled past junior left fielder Lillian Hammond and into the corner.?? Gates checked her swing and popped a weak ball straight to Callahan at third base for the initial out.?? Speiser was intentionally walked, once again, to bring Coquerille to the dish.?? The move worked out as the Tech batter flied into foul territory down the left field line for the second out.?? Designated player Amanda Glover bounced a single off the glove of Ward in the circle to load the bases for catcher Kristyn Castonzo.?? Ward managed to end the scoring threat with a K to maintain the one-run lead.

Down to their last chance in regulation, Golden Eagle Katie Betry got a lot of bat on a Ward offering to start the seventh but not quite enough as her high fly to right landed in junior Danielle Pieroni???s glove for out number one.?? Pinch hitter Maddie Schmissrauter and Boden each went down swinging as Ward closed out her six innings of work completing her 12th victory of the season.??

No. 4 Tennessee will open Southeastern Conference play this weekend by traveling to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face the second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.?? The two teams will contest a doubleheader on Saturday, March 8, at 2 p.m. ET with a single contest slated for Sunday.?? 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).