Tennessee SEC Tournament Notes

2010 TENNESSEE LADY VOL SOFTBALL three in the fourth and four runs in the sixth on the way to an 8-4 victory. Tenn. Tech jumped in front 1-0 after the top of the first, but saw UT register 11 runs over the next three frames in an 11-2 (5 inn.) whitewashing. Kentucky led 2-0 early in the DH opener before the Lady Vols rallied for a 4-3, 10 inn. triumph. Tennessee scored first in all three games against #6 Georgia, but dropped the last two games in the series. Ole Miss went up 2-0 in the first but gave up three runs in the bottom half of the frame as UT prevailed, 4-2. In the odd series at Auburn, everything went against form as UT scored first in the opener and lost on a walk-off HR, 2-1, then watched AU score first in each of the final two contests only to lose to Tennessee, 2-1 and 5-3. No. 4 Florida scored the first run in the DH finale on April 23rd, but watched UT rally for a 4-3 win.

That’s One Lucky Fan! Sophomore third baseman Jessica Spigner made a Lady Vol softball fan’s day during Tennessee’s 9-1 (5 inn.) win over Middle Tennessee on March 31. The Santa Clarita, Calif., native came through big-time for a UT student in attendance as Emily Ward won a $700 prize as part of a “If a Lady Vol Homers During the Inning” marketing promotion. The solo homer traveled well over the wall in left during the fourth inning and marked Spigner’s seventh big fly of the campaign.

Keep The Accolades Coming...

Add even more accolades to an ever-growing list for the 2010 Tennessee Lady Vols. For their outstanding efforts in doubleheader sweeps of Kentucky and Ole Miss, freshman right fielder KAT DOTSON and rookie right-handed pitcher IVY RENFROE picked up weekly awards on March 29-30.

Dotson was the big winner, reaping not only SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK honors (3/29) but also adding the prestigious USA SOFTBALL NATIONAL COLLEGIATE PLAYER OF THE WEEK award (3/30) after hitting .769 (10-of-13) for the week with six RBI, a streak of seven consecutive hits and a skein of reaching safely over nine consecutive plate appearances.

Renfroe reaped her first career selection as the SEC PITCHER OF THE WEEK (3/29) after going 3-0 in the circle with a miniscule 0.82 ERA. In perhaps her finest performance to date, the Jackson, Tenn., native fired a complete-game, two-hitter in downing Ole Miss, 4-2, and picked up her initial career save with a perfect seventh inning of work in the finale victory against the Rebels.

Freshman teammate Raven Chavanne (SEC Player of the Week on 2/22 and SEC Freshman of the Week on 3/1) and Renfroe (SEC Freshman of the Week on 3/8) garnered Tennessee’s previous weekly awards in 2010.

A Touch of CLASS! Lady Vol senior catcher/first baseman TIFFANY HUFF has been chosen as one of 10 NCAA DIVISION I SOFTBALL FINALISTS FOR THE FOURTH-ANNUAL LOWE’S SENIOR CLASS AWARD. The honor is presented to a senior softball player who best demonstrates her ability on the field, in the community and in the classroom. The Saugus, Calif., native owns a 3.78 grade-point average in special education and was honored in 2009 as a second-team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American. This marks the fourth straight season that the Big Orange have had one of the 10 national finalists for the prestigious honor.

Didn’t Think It Would Ever End! Tennessee’s doubleheader opener against the Kentucky Wildcats on March 23rd turned into a marathon battle that lasted 10 innings and stretched three hours and seven minutes before determining a winner. Thankfully for the Orange & White a walk-off single from freshman Kat Dotson in the 10th plated sophomore Ashley Andrews with the winning run as UT battled back from an early 2-0 deficit and out of a 3-2, 10th-inning hole to prevail, 4-3.

Kentucky pitcher Chanda Bell fired 200 pitches during her 10.1 innings of work while the two teams combined to throw 354 total pitches. IN THE PROCESS THE LADY VOLS PICKED UP THE PROGRAM’S 200TH ALL-TIME SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE VICTORY. Great Against Teams In-State!

Tennessee has made a habit of dominating its series’ with in-state schools since starting the UT program in 1996. All-time, the Orange & White is now an incredible 95-3 overall against a combination of 10 Tennessee schools. Co-head coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly have gone 60-0 against instate programs since arriving at Rocky Top. UT HAS ALSO WON 66 STRAIGHT GAMES AGAINST IN-STATE OPPONENTS SINCE SUFFERING ITS LAST DEFEAT BACK ON MARCH 22, 2000, AGAINST MTSU. In fact, two of Tennessee’s three in-state losses came against Chattanooga when coached by...Karen Weekly in 1999.

The Lady Vols are 17-0 against Austin Peay, 16-0 against Tennessee Tech and 14-0 versus Belmont, 16-1 versus Middle Tennessee, 13-0 in games with ETSU. UT is also 8-0 versus Tennessee State, 6-0 against Lipscomb, 3-2 against Chattanooga and 1-0 versus Memphis and UT-Martin.

Home Sweet Home -- Got Our 300th Home Win! Tennessee truly enjoys the friendly confines of Lee Softball Stadium, owning a 71-19 overall record (.789 win percentage) over three seasons at the new facility. At its old home in Tyson Park, the Lady Vols were 241-72 in 12 years for a .770 win percentage. Combining the two home sites the Big Orange is now 312-91 (.774) in Knoxville, currently in its 15th season of softball. UT IS CURRENTLY 23-4 AT HOME IN 2010 AND GOT THE 300TH HOME WIN IN TENNESSEE HISTORY ON MARCH 20TH WITH A 5-4 WIN OVER #6 GEORGIA. Huff Hits Hallowed Milestones With an RBI double to left center during the second inning of Tennessee’s 10-4 win at Mississippi State (March 10), senior catcher/first baseman Tiffany Huff reached the 200-HIT MARK in her illustrious career wearing the Orange & White. The Saugus, Calif., native is the 10th Lady Vol alltime to reach the 200-hit plateau and joins her former teammates Lindsay Schutzler, Tonya Callahan and India Chiles as members of the impressive list.

The All-American also just reached the 200-RBI MARK on a bases loaded walk during the 6-3 doubleheader finale win over Ole Miss. By achieving that milestone, she joined former Lady Vols Callahan and Kristi Durant and the only three UT players to have recorded 200 hits and 200 RBIs during their careers.

The Grand Salami!

After not registering a grand slam during the entire 2009 season, the Tennessee Lady Vols are off to a powerful start with FOUR GRAND