Freshman Ward (9-1) fills big shoes for Lady Vols

Ashton Ward has never backed down from a challenge, and she's got a big one ahead of her.

Ward, freshman right-hander for the University of Tennessee's softball team, will be among the pitchers trying to fill the void left by Monica Abbott, four-time All-American who completed her eligibility at UT last year.

When Ward came to UT from Charlotte, N.C., she knew the challenge.

"I love it," Ward said after picking up the win Sunday in the Lady Vols' 5-1 victory over Virginia (2-8) in the Tennessee Classic at Lee Softball Stadium.

"That's the whole game. I wouldn't be playing if it was just a piece of cake."

UT (14-1) won't have to rely solely on Ward this season.

Ward (9-1) took a 5-0 lead and a two-hit shutout into the seventh inning before giving up a leadoff homer to Lindsey Preuss and a single to Kelly Haller.

Senior right-hander Megan Rhodes relieved and finished off the Cavaliers with an infield pop-up, a fly ball and a strikeout.

"You saw what (Rhodes) could do in the last inning," UT co-head coach Ralph Weekly said. "The only reason (Rhodes) didn't pitch today was she threw against Virginia the last time (in the Classic)."

Weekly says the Lady Vols are in a great situation with Ward being able to adjust to college softball while learning from a veteran like Rhodes.

"Megan Rhodes is our most experienced pitcher and she's a very good pitcher," Weekly said, "and Ashton is a very good pitcher, so we have a very good one-two punch, but I would still categorize Megan Rhodes as No. 1 on our squad."

Ward, whose ERA was 0.62 entering Sunday's game, allowed four hits and one earned run with a walk and seven strikeouts.

Ward, who started two other games in the Tennessee Classic, went 2-0, threw 12 innings, allowed two earned runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out 12. UT went 5-0 in the Classic.

"She's done real well as a freshman," Weekly said of Ward. "She tends to sometimes get behind key batters, and that's what happened today, but she's everything that I could have expected and she's going to be a great pitcher in this league (the SEC)."

Senior designated hitter Shannon Doepking went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Freshman first baseman Jennifer Lapicki had an RBI double and freshman second baseman Chandra Mogan had an RBI infield single.

The Lady Vols stranded eight base runners - six in scoring position - and left the bases loaded in the fourth.

"I was not pleased with our offense at all," Weekly said. "We left runners on base almost every inning. I think the most important stat in hitting is RBIs.

"We played well enough to win, let's put it that way. We didn't play the kind of game I would have liked to play. I felt like if we'd have gotten a couple of key hits, we could have closed the game out in five (innings)."