Amy Smotherman-Burgess

The Tennessee softball team crowds home plate after Erinn Webb (cq-#14) scored the first home run against BYU at the new Sherri Lee Softball Stadium on Thursday.

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The historic opening of $7 million Lee Softball Stadium had its share of drama Thursday.

The No. 5-ranked Lady Vols scored an 8-2 victory over Brigham Young on this cold, dark late afternoon, but not before the Cougars scratched out some respect before a bundled-up crowd of 495.

The national anthem, performed by country singer Michael Peterson was part of the script - BYU getting the first home run in UT's new home was not.

Angeline Quiocho put her stamp on Lee Stadium with a shot in the fourth inning that gave the Cougars (7-4) a 2-1 lead, causing a few anxious moments for the young Lady Vols (10-1).

"I got nervous earlier this week when I saw BYU's batting averages; that's a very talented team,'' UT co-head coach Ralph Weekly said. "We're still making a lot of young-team mistakes. We're not anywhere close to where we need to be, but the kids are fighting and finding a way to win.''

Indeed, for a while the stadium may be near final completion, UT remains very much a work in progress.

Sophomore Erinn Webb tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth by drilling an inside change-up over the right-field fence just inside the foul pole.

"I just stayed focused and kept my weight back,'' Webb said. "But I thought it would go foul.''

The Lady Vols pushed four runs across in the fifth with sophomore Tiffany Huff driving in the go-ahead runs with a two-RBI double.

Huff battled BYU starter Christina Trice (2-1), fouling off six pitches before driving a shot just inside first base.

Sophomore Anita Manuma singled in two runs to give UT what appeared to be a comfortable 6-2 lead.

The Cougars, however, bounced back in the sixth, loading the bases on Lady Vols freshman starter Ashton Ward (7-1) to send Weekly to the bullpen.

Senior Megan Rhodes, who has struggled this season, faced the nation's leading home run hitter, Quiocho, with no outs.

"I didn't even know she was the leader,'' said Rhodes, who has spent her career at UT in the appreciable shadow cast by former Lady Vols All-American Monica Abbott. "I just pitched.''

The count was full, and Quiocho fouled off three pitches before Rhodes escaped with a strikeout. Rhodes fanned the next batter before getting Amanda Vance to fly out to left field.

The Lady Vols scored a pair of insurance runs in the sixth when Huff drew a bases-loaded walk and Webb lifted a sacrifice fly.

"It was a little nerve-racking when we were behind,'' said UT senior All-American Tonya Callahan, who drew two walks and had four assists at third base. "We had some errors that could be cleaned up and some areas to tweak, but it's early, and we'll make those changes.''

The Lady Vols continue play in the Tennessee Classic at 5 p.m. today against Virginia and 7 tonight against Wagner. The tournament runs through Sunday.