Following an uncharacteristic series loss to Mississippi State, the No. 8 Tennessee Lady Volunteer softball team bounced back strong, defeating the Furman Paladins 8-0 in six innings on Tuesday night at Sherri Park Lee Stadium.
Strong pitching carried Tennessee through most of the game, as three hurlers combined for a three-hit shutout of the Paladins. Sophomore Erin Gabriel got the start, pitching three innings of two-hit ball while setting the tone well for the Lady Vol pitching staff.
Gabriel was replaced by junior Cheyanne Tarango who gave up only one hit and struck out three in two innings of work. Ace Ellen Renfroe pitched a quick sixth inning, and was credited with her fourth save of the season.
“I was very pleased with the pitching,” co-head coach Karen Weekly said. “No walks and no hit batters, and when you do that good things are bound to happen.”
The Lady Vols struck first in the second inning as Melissa Davin scored on a Lexi Overstreet double to left field. Davin then drove in the speedy Shaliyah Geathers in the third on a sacrifice fly to shallow left field.
The Tennessee offense struggled for the first five innings, though, recording only four hits and two runs.
In the sixth inning, however, the bats came to life, as the Lady Vols scored six runs, and ended the game on a walk-off, two-RBI single from senior Madison Shipman.
Furman starter Lauren Collier had retired eight straight batters before catcher Annie Aldrete reached on a leadoff error. Davin followed that up with a walk, and then back to back hits from Haley Tobler and Tarango put the Vols up 4-0.
After a hit by pitch, the bases were loaded and senior pitcher Ellen Renfroe stepped up to the plate for her first collegiate at-bat. Renfroe struck out swinging for the first out of the inning, but was able to laugh about her first plate appearance after the game.
“I was not prepared at all,” Renfroe said. “I haven’t picked up a bat since high school. I didn’t have anything to lose, so I wasn’t really nervous. I don’t know what was really going through my head.”
After a two-RBI double from Geathers, Shipman drove in her 44th and 45th RBIs of the season to end the game due to run rule in the sixth inning.
Geathers has been a recent addition to the starting lineup, and her speed has added another dimension to a lineup that is mostly comprised of power hitters. Batting leadoff, her speed at the top of the order has helped facilitate the offense at times.
“Basically what Ralph and Karen ask of me is just to get on base,” Geathers said. “When I get on base, I’m kind of quick, so I can score really easily.”
After dropping a tough series at home last weekend, the Lady Vols wanted to get back in the win column before heading to play a top-10 Kentucky team for a three-game series this weekend.
“This time of year you need wins any way you can get them,” Weekly said. “You’re fighting for postseason seeding, so every win you can get is important. Plus, we just really wanted to get back on the winning track after the weekend.
“It’s just good to get back here in front of a great crowd on a beautiful night.”
