Va. Tech's 4-Run rally downs UT, 4-2

Sunday, May 18

Knoxville, Tenn.

University of Tennessee

50-16

Virginia Tech

47-15

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

May 15, 2008 | Softball

Box Score

NCAA Tournament Central??|??Box Score |??Quotes |??Photos

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ??? No. 13 Tennessee (50-16) was cruising along with loads of momentum and a 1-0 lead before a 56-minute, fourth-inning rain delay brought things to a screeching halt and changed the complexion of the contest as No. 16 Virginia Tech (47-16) rallied for four runs, immediately after the resumption of play, to slide past the Lady Vols and clinch the Knoxville Regional championship as well as a berth to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in their program???s history.

UT sophomore center fielder Erinn Webb continued her incredible day versus the Hokies by recording her third home run over two contests and a career-high 10th big fly of the season as part of a 2-for-3 effort. In fact, the Hemet, Calif., native hit a squad-best .529 (9-of-17) with two doubles, a triple, three homers and six RBIs during the five games of the Knoxville Regional. Senior third baseman Tonya Callahan was 1-for-2 in her final game wearing the Orange & White and registered her team-high 62nd RBI of the campaign while hitting .333 during the event.

The senior class consisting of Callahan, Megan Rhodes, Kenora Posey, Caitlin Ryan and Shannon Doepking concluded their careers on Rocky Top having served as part of the foundation for establishing major success in the Tennessee softball program. As a group, they played a significant role in four consecutive 50-win seasons (three won 60 or more games), helped UT to three straight Women College World Series berths with finishes of third, third and second overall in the country, contributed to the initial Southeastern Conference regular-season (2007) and tournament titles (2006) in program annals and tallied a staggering 241-51 record over four campaigns. They also helped Tennessee become the first SEC team to achieve a No. 1 ranking in the national polls during the 2007 season, staying there for a record 11 straight weeks.

???First I would like to give credit to Virginia Tech,??? Lady Vol co-head coach Ralph Weekly said. ???They came back from adversity much the same as we did against Michigan a couple of years ago when Monica got lit up in the first game and we pulled her out and came back with her in the second game. The second thing I want to say is that I am really proud of our kids. We won 50 games this year after losing seven players, six of which were starters, from last year. I think they achieved a heck of a lot, and I???m just really proud of them. Karen and I are proud of them. It was a battle, and at least we took them to the wire. I still think she [Angela Tincher] is the best pitcher in America, and I think Megan battled with her pitch-for-pitch all the way.

With Rhodes having retired the Hokies in order in the top of the first, the Big Orange struck without the benefit of a hit in the bottom half. Junior left fielder Lillian Hammond reached via a throwing error committed by Virginia Tech hurler Angela Tincher on a ball that bounced back to the circle. With the runner at second, a passed ball on catcher Kelsey Hoffman advanced Hammond up 60 feet to third. A perfect squeeze bunt off the bat of Callahan plated the contest???s opening score as Tennessee nabbed a quick 1-0 advantage.

After setting down seven consecutive batters, Rhodes fell behind right fielder Whitney Davis 3-0 with one down in the top of the third before battling back to 3-2 and inducing a routine fly out to freshman right fielder Kelly Grieve. The Nashville, Tenn., native ended the inning from the circle one-two-three by striking out left fielder Caroline Stolle on a full count rise ball.

Second baseman Erin Ota tallied the Hokies??? first base knock of the contest with one out in the top of the fourth on a sharp shot back up the middle. Third baseman Charisse Mariconda popped a ball up on the infield that Lapicki squeezed for the second out. With that, the heavens opened up at 6:55 p.m. ET forcing a lengthy rain delay as the field crew was called upon to roll the tarp out on the field. Following the 56-minute break, Rhodes fired a strike past Misty Hall as the game re-commenced. On a 2-2 pitch, Hall lifted a towering fly deep down the left field and just beyond the wall granting the Hokies a shocking 2-1 lead. The break seemed to disrupt the flow that Rhodes had been in prior to the delay as she next issued a walk to Hoffman and was lifted in favor of freshman reliever Ward. The Charlotte, N.C., product was greeted with a double into left field by Everhart that plated Hoffman all the way from first for a 3-1 advantage. A two-out fielding error on the UT infield kept the inning alive, allowing the opportunity for Davis to deliver an RBI single into right, scoring Tech???s fourth tally.

With UT having wasted a lead-off single in the bottom of the fifth, Huff tried to get something started with two down in the sixth by lacing a two-out double the opposite way and down the left field line into the corner. Unfortunately, Tincher forced Doepking to foul out just outside of first base concluding the frame.

Rhodes kept the Hokies off the scoreboard in the top of the seventh, granting the Lady Vols one final chance to dig out of a three-run hole. With one out, Webb did what she could by blasting a towering solo shot deep over the center field wall, her third of the day and 10th of the season. Virginia Tech???s Tincher didn???t let the big fly rattle her, however, as she ended the contest with a strikeout and by forcing a ground ball to short to clinch the title for the Hokies.

Friday, May 16??
Game One	Louisville vs. Virginia Tech	VT 1-0 (10 inn.)	Recap??\|??Box Score??\|??Quotes??
Game Two	Tennessee vs. Winthrop	UT 3-0	Recap \| Box Score??\|??Quotes??\|??Photos??
Saturday, May 17??
Game Three	Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee	VT 4-0	Recap??\|??Box Score??\|??Quotes \| Photos??
Game Four	Louisville vs. Winthrop	UL 4-1	Recap??\|??Box Score??\| Quotes??
Game Five	Tennessee vs. Louisville	UT 8-1	Recap \| Box Score??\|??Quotes??\| Photos??
Sunday, May 18??
Game Six	Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee	UT 7-1	Recap \|??Box Score??
Game Seven	Tennessee vs. Viginia Tech	VT 4-2	Recap \|??Box Score??\|??Quotes??\|??Photos??