May 13, 2011
Oxford, Miss. - The 23rd-ranked Auburn softball team left nine runners on base in a one-run game as the seventh-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols claimed a 2-1 victory and ousted the Tigers from the Southeastern Conference Tournament Friday.
Auburn dropped to 39-17 with the loss, while Tennessee improved to 46-10 and advanced to the tournament championship game on Saturday. Auburn will now await a possible NCAA Tournament bid, which will be announced at 9 p.m. CT Sunday on ESPNU.
"I like the mindset of our team coming into the game today," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "We gave ourselves scoring opportunities, but you have to credit Ellen Renfroe. She got stronger as the game went along and she got even tougher with runners on base."
Jenee Loree started and took the loss to fall to 9-5. Loree allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits with two walks and one strikeout in four and one-third innings. Angel Bunner relieved Loree in the fifth inning and went the final one and two-third innings, without allowing a hit or walk.
Ellen Renfroe earned the win in relief to improve to 25-5. Renfroe went six innings allowing one run, unearned, on one hit with three walks and 10 strikeouts. Ivy Renfroe started for UT and went one inning, allowing one hit with two walks and one strikeout.
The Lady Vols took advantage of an Auburn error to plate the first run of the game. After consecutive infield singles by Raven Chavanne and Kelly Grieve put the first two batters of the inning on, Lauren Gibson followed with an infield single to Kelsey Cartwright at second, who fired wildly to first, allowing Chavanne to score. A one-out single through the right side by Shelby Burchell scored Grieve for a 2-0 Lady Vol lead after one inning of play.
Auburn missed a scoring opportunity in the top of the second as Tennessee walked the bases loaded. Elizabeth Eisterhold, Katie Colton and Amber Harrison each drew walks to load the bases with no outs. However, Ellen Renfroe settled and struck out the next three Auburn hitters to squash the scoring threat and preserve the 2-0 Tennessee lead.
The Tigers cut into the deficit in the top of the third inning when Katie Colton delivered a two-out, RBI single. It came with Lauren Guzman (error) at second and Kelley Smiley (walk) at first. That would be the only run the Tigers would score, however, as Ellen Renfroe fanned Amber Harrison to end the inning. With two runners left on, the Tigers had stranded seven runners on base through three innings of play.
Auburn would strand a runner at first in the fourth inning and a runner at second in the sixth inning. Renfroe set the Tigers down in order in the seventh to seal the Lady Vols' victory.