University of Louisville
Tennessee
Fifth-ranked Tennessee Defeats Softball 8-1
May 21, 2006 | Softball
May 21, 2006
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- - Softball Falls to Fifth-Ranked Tennessee 8-1 in NCAA Regionals Fifth-ranked host Tennessee defeated the No. 18 ranked University of Louisville softball team 8-1 Sunday in the final game of the Knoxville regional. The Cardinals finish the season with a 45-11 record, the best overall mark in school history. Tennessee (56-9) will advance to the NCAA super regional.
The teams played through three scoreless innings before the Lady Vols erupted for five runs in the top of the fourth. Lindsay Schutzler led off the frame with a single and took second on a Louisville error on the play. Louisville pitcher Catherine Bishop struck out Tonya Callahan to bring up Katherine Card. Schutzler advanced to third on a wild pitch with one out to set up Card's one-out RBI single up the middle. Liane Horiuchi reached on a two-out error to place runners on first and Shannon Doepking walked to load the bases. Natalie Brock drew a pinch hit walk to plate Schutzler and give UT a 2-0 lead. Shannon Fekete's single just over third baseman Audrey Rendon's reach sent Horiuchi home. India Chiles stepped up to the plate and delivered a two-run single to make it a 5-0 game.
The scoring continued for UT in the fifth when Danielle Pieroni reached on a fielder's choice, moved to second on Horiuchi's groundout, took third on another Cardinal miscue and crossed the plate on Posey's base hit to make it a 6-0 game.
The Lady Vols tacked on another run in the sixth when Fekete reached on an infield hit, took second on a sacrifice hit by Chiles, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Schutzler's groundout.
UT added its eighth run of the game in the top of the seventh when Pieroni singled, moved to third on two wild pitches and crossed the plate on Doepking's groundout.
Tennessee started the offense early in the first when Chiles reached safely on an infield single and took second on an error. Schutzler's sacrifice bunt sent Chiles to third with two outs. Bishop and catcher Lacy Wood combined to throw Chiles out at the plate as she attempted to steal home. The Cards stifled another UT scoring opportunity the third. Doepking led off the frame with a single and was lifted for pinch runner Alicia Brown who was caught stealing. Sarah Fekete reached on a two-out infield single and stole second and third, but Bishop struck Chiles out to end the threat.
The Cardinals finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh when Leslie Garland broke up Abbott's bid for a perfect game on a leadoff infield single. Courtney Moore followed with a one-out walk to set up Lacy Wood's double which sent Garland home to make the score 8-1.
Bishop (30-7) took the loss, allowing eight runs, two earned on 10 hits and striking out five in seven innings. Garland was 1 for 3 with a run and Wood was 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI.
Abbott (39-7) got the win, giving up only one earned run on two hits and striking out 12 in seven innings. Fekete was 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Doepking was 2 for 3 with two RBI and a run.
"We have to tip our hat to Tennessee," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Monica Abbott pitched a great game and their offense has so much speed and power. They are very difficult to defend. I'm proud of our team's accomplishments this season. Hopefully we can use this experience to build on for next year."
