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May 16, 2009

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - On a bright, sunny Saturday afternoon at the Lee Softball Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., No. 15 Tennessee (40-16-1) utilized a key pinch-hit, three-RBI double from sophomore Ashton Ward as part of a four-tally top of the second inning and outstanding relief from senior hurler Danielle Pieroni to down Nebraska (35-18), 5-2, and advance to Sunday's Knoxville Regional championship tilt slated for 2 p.m. ET. With the victory, the Lady Vols secured their seventh consecutive 40-win season.

Ward delivered a 1-for-3 performance at the plate with the aforementioned three-run two-bagger to help lead the UT offense. Junior right fielder Erinn Webb continued her outstanding postseason effort by posting a 2-for-3 day with a double, a run scored and a RBI. Freshman shortstop Ashley Andrews was credited with a RBI, while freshman designated player Shelby Burchell and sophomore center fielder Kelly Grieve each posted a hit in the match-up.

Pieroni garnered her eighth win of the season after firing 5.2 frames of two-hit relief, allowing one run, walking one and striking out five. Freshman Cat Hosfield started in the circle for UT, permitting a tally on three hits over 1.1 innings of work.

"First of all, I am really proud of our team," Lady Vol co-head coach Ralph Weekly said. "We found a way to win again today, and that's what is important in the playoffs. I called on Ashton (Ward) with the bases loaded because I know she is a great changeup hitter. She's also a good hitter on other pitches, but she hits the changeup really, really well. She gave us three big runs there. That was huge and the turning point. Also, I knew that Cat (Hosfield) was just tired. She told us that in between innings, so I went to Danielle (Pieroni) in the second inning. She pitched really, really well and provided us with a huge lift, much like she did against Oregon State earlier this year. With Erinn (Webb), what can I say? Not only did she get a great hit, but that catch against the wall was one of the best that I have ever seen."

Grieve wasted no time in getting the Tennessee offense started by beating out a perfect slap single to second in the top of the first. Senior left fielder Lillian Hammond had a ball hit off the knob of her bat and travel into the field of play as Nebraska pitcher Molly Hill fielded the sphere and tossed to first for a strange out. Junior catcher Tiffany Huff battled over eight pitches before drawing a walk to join her teammate on the base paths. Unfortunately a pair of strikeouts derailed the scoring opportunity.

NU center fielder Meghan Mullin got the `Huskers off to a quick start in the bottom half by lacing a sharp single into center leading off the frame. Left fielder Darcy Rutherford dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt out in front of the dish to advance the runner into scoring position. A wild pitch allowed Mullin to improve 60 feet to third, setting the stage for a RBI single back through the middle from catcher Andrea Duran as Nebraska grabbed a quick 1-0 lead.

Starting the top of the second, Webb drove a double to the wall in center and was joined on the bases by first baseman Jen Lapicki via walk. After a visit to the circle by the NU coaches in an attempt to settle down their pitcher Hill, Burchell swung at the initial pitch and delivered a base knock just behind second, loading the bags with still no one retired. Andrews worked the count full before fouling off a couple of pitches. The Tumwater, Wash., native looked at ball four high, forcing in a tally as the game drew even at 1-1. Ward entered the game in place of Hammond and quickly roped a clutch double into the gap, scoring all three base runners for a 4-1 advantage.

A one-out double into the left center gap during the bottom of the second ended the day in the circle for Hosfield as Pieroni was summoned into the contest for a relief appearance. The Madison, Tenn., native settled things down immediately by striking out shortstop Whitney Barrett and personally handling an infield pop-up from Mullin.

With Pieroni controlling the Huskers from the pitching circle having retired the first four NU hitters she had faced, Burchell granted the Big Orange a lead-off base runner in the top of the fourth after being struck on the hand by a Hill offering. Hitting lefty, Andrews slapped the ball sharply the other way, but right at third baseman Heidi Foland for the initial out of the inning. Grieve dropped a sac bunt out in front of the plate and almost beat the toss to first as Burchell advanced up 60 feet into scoring position. Ward bounced out to short as Barrett's throw across the diamond was just in time to retire the batter and end the frame.

Huff greeted new Nebraska pitcher Ashley Hagemann by coercing a walk leading off the top of the fifth. Following a Lady Vol strikeout and an infield pop-up that threatened to derail any possible scoring opportunity, Webb continued her solid day at the dish by roping a two-bagger to left that hit about a foot short of becoming a home run as Huff raced around from first for a 5-1 UT lead.

Pieroni made it 10 straight Husker hitters retired by quickly working through the bottom of the fifth inning in order one-two-three.

Webb backed her hurler by making an outstanding play in foul ground in left near the bullpen wall to end the sixth. The Hemet, Calif., native crashed into the brick façade while making a running catch, improving Pieroni's consecutive retired streak improved to 13.

With Nebraska down to its final chance in the bottom of the seventh, Brechtel led off the frame with a first pitch single back through the middle. Pinch hitter Brittany Pascale lifted a pop-up into foul ground that Lapicki squeezed outside of the first for the initial out of the inning. Alex Hupp quickly got ahead of Pieroni 3-0, before the UT pitcher rebounded with two consecutive strikes. On the next pitch, Hupp bounced back to the circle and the ball took a wicked hop to the left as Pieroni attempted to field it. She managed to corral the orb and cut down the hitter at first as Brechtel advanced into scoring position with two retired. Pinch hitter Jamie Gay ripped a single into left center, plating the runner from second as the deficit was cut to 5-2. Kirby Wright stepped in as NU's last chance to extend the contest and she walked to bring Mullin up to bat as the potential tying tally. The NU center fielder grounded out to short, however, as Andrews made the play to send Tennessee on to Sunday's championship round.