March 6, 2010
Final Stats
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -
Home runs were the theme of the Illinois State and No. 20 Tennessee softball game Saturday night at the First Tennessee Tournament in Knoxville, Tenn. Michelle Henderson, Caiti Kopp and Kara Nelson each hit a shot out of the park, but four Tennessee home runs in the game lifted the Lady Vols over the Redbirds, 6-5.
"It was a tough loss, but I think we had some great at bats in the game," said head coach Melinda Fischer. "I thought we put a good solid bat on the ball. They made some really nice plays, and I thought the momentum switched in the fifth inning in Tennessee's favor."
Tennessee's Kelly Grieve walked in the bottom of the first and stole second and third before being driven in by Jessica Spigner, who singled up the middle, to give the Lady Vols a one run lead early in the game.
Henderson hit her second home run of the day in the top of the second to tie the game at one run a piece.
Going into the third, ISU continued a strong offensive performance when Kopp hit the first home run of her college career giving the Redbirds a one run lead. Nelson singled to left and moved to second on a Tennessee error that put Jhavon Hamilton on first. Abby Olson drove in Nelson and Hamilton on a single to right center to give ISU a three-run lead. ISU scored three runs on three hits and one Tennessee error.
In the bottom of the third with no outs, Tennessee hit into a double play, but were able to get two hits in the inning before Erinn Webb grounded out to Niki Stansell.
Illinois State and Tennessee would go scoreless in the fourth inning, but the Lady Vols hit three home runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at four runs apiece. Jessica Spigner and Tiffany Huff hit back-to-back homers for the Lady Vols before Erin Webb sent one deep that bounced off the light pole in left center field.
In the top of the sixth, Beth Current walked and advanced to second on a grounder by Shelby Music. Kopp hit a hard line drive to right field, but was robbed when Kat Dotson made a diving catch to end the inning.
Tennessee would take the lead for the second time of the game in the bottom of the sixth when Spigner hit a two-run shot over the Lee Stadium scoreboard in left field to give the Lady Vols a two-run lead.
In the seventh, the Redbirds cut Tennessee's lead to one when Nelson hit a homer off of the scoreboard making it a one run game. The home run was Nelson's first on the season. ISU would leave the tying run stranded on second and come up short in the top of the seventh.
The Redbirds will compete in the final day of play at the First Tennessee Tournament Sunday when ISU takes on No. 15/13 Texas (10 a.m. CST) and host No. 20 Tennessee (3 p.m. CST) for the second time in two days.
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