| SOFTBALL RESULTS |
Tennessee 7, UCSB 0
|
Auburn 6, Alabama State 0
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UCLA 7, Kentucky 1
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Mississippi State 7, South Alabama 2
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No. 9 Tennessee Races Past UCSB in 2012 Season Opener
TEMPE, Ariz. – Lady Vol sophomore shortstop Madison Shipman and junior second baseman Lauren Gibson each blasted solo homers to back a complete-game, one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts from sophomore pitcher Ellen Renfroe as No. 9 Tennessee (1-0) rolled past UCSB (0-1), 7-0, in the Big Orange’s 2012 season opener at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.
The Orange & White softball squad managed to out-hit the Gauchos, 9-1, plating three runs during both the second and fifth innings.
Shipman was 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs and a pair of runs scored, Gibson was 2-for-2 with a homer and RBI and both senior right fielder Shelby Burchell (1-for-1, two walks, run) and senior third baseman Ashley Andrews (1-for-2) were credited with an RBI. Sophomore left fielder Melissa Davin (1-for-2), junior center fielder Whitney Hammond (1-for-3, run) and junior pinch hitter Morgan Fowler (1-for-1) each recorded base hits. Freshmen Cheyanne Tarango (first base) and Hannah Akamine (catcher) each drew their first starts at Tennessee, while rookie Hannah Trainer pinch hit during the fifth inning.
Renfroe struck out 10 or more hitters in a single contest for the eighth time during her brief career at Rocky Top while starting off 2012 a perfect 1-0 overall.
“Karen (Co-Head Coach Weekly) and I were very pleased with the effort today by our whole team,” Lady Vol Co-Head Coach Ralph Weekly said. “UCSB gave us a lot of problems last year in our 2-0 victory. Andriana Collins (Gaucho starter) is a tough pitcher, but we made some adjustments today and managed to score some runs. We struggled at the top of our order with Raven Chavanne out this weekend with an injury and Kat Dotson not at full speed. Tomorrow brings two more tough challenges, but that’s what it’s all about, playing high-level competition to get ready for the rugged Southeastern Conference schedule.”
The pitchers controlled the early going as Renfroe and UCSB’s Collins each worked one-two-three innings in the first. UT’s 6-0 right-hander struck out both left fielder Brooke Putich and right fielder Allison Taylor, while her Gaucho counterpart K’ed the Big Orange side.
After Renfroe improved her total to five strikeouts through a pair of frames by striking out the side in the top of the second, Shipman crushed Collins’ first pitch of the bottom half of the second over the temporary fencing for a 1-0 lead. Burchell managed a five-pitch walk, bringing freshman first baseman Cheyanne Tarango to the plate for her first collegiate at-bat. The Anaheim Hills, Calif., native dropped a bunt that was fielded quickly but thrown away to second by UCSB third baseman Keilani Jennings. The error allowed Burchell the opportunity to race around and score all the way from first for a 2-0 advantage. A single off the bat of Davin, her first stolen base and an RBI blooper to left by Andrews helped improve the lead to three tallies.
Renfroe had retired eight straight Gauchos until UCSB shortstop DeJanee Moore managed to line a sharp single to left with two outs in the top of the third. The runner remained at first, however, as UT’s hurler punched out center fielder Jessica Soria for her seventh K of the contest.
Gibson followed Shipman’s lead by hammering the very first pitch of the bottom of the fourth over the wall to lift Tennessee’s advantage to 4-0.
With Renfroe on cruise control, having retired seven straight after the lone UCSB single in the third, Hammond opened the bottom of the fifth with a perfect lead-off bunt single. That got a Big Orange offensive assault started as Gibson registered an infield single, and then Shipman blasted an RBI base-knock to plate Hammond for a 5-0 lead. The move was made by the Gaucho coaching staff to summon in Shelby Wisdom to relieve Collins, but the move immediately backfired. The new hurler uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Gibson to race home from 60 feet away as the advantage expanded to 6-0. With Shipman stationed at third, Burchell laced an RBI single through the infield to make it 7-0. Senior Holly Baker and Akamine soon walked to pack the bags full of Lady Vols with two retired. Trainer came on in a pinch-hitting role and battled to a full count, but popped up to third to leave the bases loaded.
From there it was just left to Renfroe to finish the contest off from the circle. The Jackson, Tenn., native did just that, striking out a total of three Gauchos over the final two frames with back-to-back, one-two-three innings in the sixth and seventh to secure the 7-0 victory.
Auburn Softball Opens Season With 6-0 Win Over Alabama State
Auburn, Ala. – Morgan Estell went 3-for-4 with two RBI and pitcher Lauren Schmalz struck out 10 in a shutout as the Auburn softball team opened the 2012 season with a 6-0 victory over Alabama State.
Auburn will play twice Friday in the first full day of the Tiger Invitational. The Tigers play Wright State at 12:30 p.m. and Bowling Green at 3 p.m.
“I thought this was a good win but one we can certainly improve on,” Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. “Lauren Schmalz did her job in keeping the other team off the scoreboard and we were able to string together some hits in the fifth and sixth to increase our lead.”
Schmalz (1-0) went the distance allowing just a pair singles, one hit-by-pitch and one walk. Schmalz fanned 10 including a string of five straight in the first and second innings.
Amanda Gracia (0-1) started and took the loss for Alabama State. Gracia allowed one run, earned, on sixth hits in three and one-third innings of work. Bailey Patt pitched two and two-thirds in relief, allowing five runs, two earned, on six hits with two walks and one strikeout.
Morgan Estell put the Tigers on top with a two-out, RBI double to left that scored Caitlin Schultze in the bottom of the third inning.
After the teams combined to get just one ball out of the infield through the first two and a half innings, Schultze laced a one-out double to left in the third. After Amber Harrison fouled out, Estell pushed Schultze across for a 1-0 Auburn lead.
The Tigers increased their lead in the bottom of the fifth. Schultze opened the frame with single. Harrison followed with a fielder’s choice, but Schultze was safe at second after shortstop Yvette Ducoing booted the throw. Estell followed with another fielder’s choice, this forcing Schultze out at third.
With one out and runners at second and first, Branndi Melero loaded the bases with a bunt single. Lauren Guzman then hit a ground ball to short that forced Melero out at second, but Harrison scored from third and Estell took home on the throw to first on a double-play attempt that failed. Harrison and Estell’s runs made it 3-0.
Guzman would score one batter later when Caitlin Jordan singled through the left side to make it a 4-0 Auburn lead.
Morgan Murphy gave the Tigers a 5-0 lead in the sixth inning with a triple off the wall in center that scored Schultze from first. Hilary Mavromat pinch-hit for Schultze and laced a single to right with one out. Schultze then re-entered to run at first and scored when Murphy pinch-hit for Harrison.
Estell followed with a double up the middle to score Murphy and push the Auburn lead to 6-0 and cap the scoring.
No. 13 Kentucky Drops Season Opener at No. 19 UCLA
LOS ANGELES – For the first time in the Rachel Lawson era the Kentucky softball team has begun the season with a loss on the opening day of action. No. 13 Kentucky dropped a 7-1 contest on the home field of No. 19 UCLA on Thursday night at Easton Field. UK opened the season on the road against a ranked foe for the third consecutive season, and this is the first year the Blue and White have not pulled out the victory.
Kentucky (0-1) was led at the plate by senior Rachel Riley who notched a 2-for-2 day with a pair of singles. She also reached base by way of a walk to claim a perfect day at the dish. Fellow senior Brittany Cervantes drove in a run with an RBI single in the fourth frame. The Chatsworth, Calif., native has now notched 126 career RBI and is a mere 12 shy of breaking the career record in the category.
UK will return to action Friday afternoon with a 5 p.m. ET date with Pacific before facing the Bruins for the second time in two days at 9 p.m. ET.
The Wildcats got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth after Riley led off the inning with a single up the middle. Pinch runner Ginny Carroll shifted to third base following two wild pitches by the Bruins’ starting hurler to move into prime scoring position. Cervantes then delivered an RBI single through the left side to bridge the gap for the Blue and White at 3-1 and bring in the first run of the 2012 season.
Riley earned the team’s first base of the year after she drew a two-out walk in the top of the first, but the Wildcats left her stranded.
UCLA began the season by plating a score behind a pair of singles and a UK fielding error to earn the early 1-0 advantage.
After UK dropped in order in the top of the second, the home squad tacked on two more runs behind a two-run double from Samantha Camuso to go ahead 3-0.
Junior Kara Dill earned a base with two outs after being struck with a pitch in the top of the third. Despite a terrific at-bat that included fending off six pitches, sophomore Emily Jolly could not keep the inning alive as the Blue and White stranded its second base runner of the game.
Starting pitcher Ellen Weaver and the Wildcat defense settled in to sit the Bruins down in order in the third. The home team managed just one hit that plucked Weaver on the way up the middle in the fourth, but UK’s lefty followed with the third out of the inning by way of a strikeout to preserve the 3-1 score.
Senior Macy Allen earned a base with one out in the top of the fifth after being plucked with a pitch. The Bruins’ fended off another Wildcat rally with a tremendous defensive play. Dill roped a ball through the four-hole gap, but UCLA’s second baseman made a terrific snag and then tossed the ball to first to complete the double-play.
UCLA extended its lead to 7-1 with four more runs in the home half of the fifth behind four hits.
Riley got her second hit of the game with a single into right field in the sixth, but UK left her stranded to end the UK scoring threat. Allen made a spectacular snare in left field to prevent a home run in the home half of the sixth to lead the defensive effort for the Wildcats.
Bulldog Softball Opens 2012 In Grand Fashion With 7-2 Win Over South Alabama
MOBILE, Ala. – Down to their last out and the difference between winning and losing as thin as the cold wind whipping in the air, senior designated player Brittany Bell launched her first career grand slam to propel the Mississippi State softball team (1-0) to a 7-2 victory over host South Alabama (0-1) Thursday night at Jaguar Field. Game one of the 2012 Mardi Gras Invitational gave head coach Vann Stuedeman her first victory in her debut as a head coach.
“The Bulldogs came out fighting tonight and battled hard,” Stuedeman said. “With our backs against the wall, we competed till the very end. We put together a great seventh inning and you can’t ask for anything more than that.”
Facing the preseason Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year in Hannah Campbell, Bell finished the game 2-for-3 with four RBI, one home run and a run. Junior Jessica Cooley connected on a home run in the seventh as well, finishing the game 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run. Also collecting multiple hits were sophomore catcher Sam Lenahan and sophomore center fielder Jessica Offutt, who both went 2-for-4.
“Today was about a process and executing our game plan,” Bell said. “I’ve been working with Coach (Alan) Reach a lot on my swing, but I would not have had that opportunity if it was not for my teammates in front of me who reached base.”
In the circle, junior left-handed pitcher Stephanie Becker picked up the first win of the 21st season of Bulldog softball, going the distance for her ninth career complete game. The Chicago native gave up two runs on seven hits, striking out four and walking none.
The Maroon and White fell behind 2-0 after a first-inning sacrifice fly and a third-inning solo home run by the Jaguars. Down a deuce after three, MSU jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Bell notched her first hit of the game with a single to right field and was pinch run for by freshman Ashley Phillips. Phillips proceeded to steal second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Jaguars’ right fielder. The Water Valley, Miss., native broke for home on the last pitch of junior Erin Nesbit’s at bat and slid past USA’s catcher for the Bulldogs’ first run of the season.
Both teams proceeded to trade zeroes on the scoreboard until the final frame. Down to their last two outs, MSU junior pinch-hitter Chrissie Rovtar worked a full count before singling to left. Sophomore Shana Sherrod pinch ran for Rovtar and advanced to second on a single to the left side by Lenahan. The bases became juiced when freshman third baseman Swayze Hollenhead was hit by a pitch on a 2-2 count with two outs. That set the stage for Bell, who on a 1-0 pitch, drove a no-doubter screaming over the fence in center field for a grand slam and a 5-2 MSU lead.
Stuedeman’s squad was not finished, as Nesbit singled up the middle on the very next pitch. Cooley officially put the game out of hand with a 2-2 swing over the fence in center to give the game its final score of 7-2.
The Bulldogs return to the field tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. CT against Lipscomb at Jaguar Field in Mobile for their second game of the 2012 Mardi Gras Invitational. Fans can visit HailState.com for live stats and follow along at Twitter.com/MStateSB for live in-game updates.