April 7, 2012
Auburn, Ala. - The 10th-ranked Tennessee softball team scored a pair of runs in the 10th inning to claim a 5-3 win over the Auburn Tigers Saturday afternoon.
The loss dropped Auburn's record to 26-14 overall and 5-10 in the Southeastern Conference. Tennessee improved to 30-9 overall and 12-6 in the SEC. The Tigers and Lady Vols conclude the series Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
"This is a tough loss, but I'm proud of the way we came back after falling behind early in the game," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "Tennessee jumped out to the early lead and we could have rolled over, but the team rallied and put up some runs. We missed a few chances to increase the lead and to win later in the game, but you have to credit Tennessee for making the plays when they had to."
Angel Bunner took the loss in relief to fall to 11-3. Bunner allowed two runs, both earned, on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings of work. Lauren Schmalz started, going four innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Ellen Renfroe earned the win in relief to improve to 21-3. Renfroe allowed just one hit, walked one and struck out nine in six innings. Ivy Renfroe started, allowing three runs, all earned, on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts in four innings.
Madison Shipman gave Tennessee a 2-0 lead with a two-out, two-run home run to left in the top of the first inning. Shipman's home run was her sixth of the season and came with Lauren Gibson (single) aboard.
The Tigers rallied to take the lead, scoring three runs on two outs, in the bottom of the second inning. Amber Harrison singled through the left side to open the frame and quickly stole second. After Caitlin Jordan was hit by a pitch, Caitlin Schultze moved the runners to third and second with a sac bunt.
With one out, Baylee Stephens ground to Gibson at second base, who fired home to put out Harrison attempting to score. With Jordan at third, Stephens at first (fielder's choice), Branndi Melero was hit by a pitch to load the bases. On a 0-2 pitch, Lauren Guzman sliced a ground ball through the right side to score Jordan and make it a 2-1 game.
With the bases loaded, Elizabeth Eisterhold went to a 3-0 count before Ivy Renfroe fired a pair of strikes to make it a 3-2 count. Eisterhold then laced a single back through the middle to score Stephens and Melero to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.
The Lady Vols tied the game, and chased Schmalz from the game, in the top of the fifth inning. Tory Lewis reached on a throwing error by Schmalz to open the inning. That brought Bunner in to pitch. Bunner then walked Raven Chavanne and hit Hannah Akamine to load the bases with no outs. Bunner fanned Gibson for the first out, but Shipman tied the game with a ground out to third which scored Lewis.
Ellen Renfroe, who earned the complete-game win in Friday night's series opener, entered the game to open the bottom of the fifth inning. After issuing a leadoff walk to Hilary Mavromat, Renfroe fanned Liana Wuchte and, on a swinging third strike, Harrison. As Harrison took a step across the plate after the strikeout, pinch-runner Maris Medina broke for second. The catcher fired straight into Harrison's back. Interference was called and Median was out to end the inning.
Auburn would strand runners at first base in the eighth and ninth innings.
In the 10th, Gibson was hit by the first pitch of the inning. Shipman followed with a triple off the top of the wall in right-center to plate Gibson and give UT a 4-3 lead. On a 2-2 pitch, an illegal pitch was called on Bunner to push Shipman home from third giving UT a 5-3 edge.
Renfroe retired the Tigers in order in the bottom of the 10th to seal the victory for the Lady Vols.