Weekly's moves help Lady Vols advance to regional finals : govolsxtra.com

There are a number of reasons Tennessee’s Ralph Weekly has attained 917 wins over his 22 seasons as a softball head coach.

The Lady Vols 5-2 win over Nebraska (35-18) on Saturday provided a few more reasons in addition to putting UT in the NCAA Regional title game at 2 p.m. today at Lee Stadium.

Tennessee will play the winner of today’s 11:30 a.m. elimination game between the Cornhuskers and Jacksonville State (40-14). JSU advanced by beating James Madison, 6-0, on Saturday.

UT survived a scare from James Madison late Friday night, 4-3, to advance to Saturday’s game with Nebraska, which Weekly apparently anticipated.

With the Lady Vols (40-16-1) and the ’Huskers deadlocked at 1-1 and the bases loaded in the second inning, Weekly went to the bullpen — for a pinch-hitter.

UT sophomore Ashton Ward, who split lead pitching duties last season, was called in for her 15th at-bat of the season.

Nebraska coach Rhonda Revelle had seen film of Ward’s at-bats and had a plan for the 6-footer from Charlotte, N.C.

“(Ward had) three walks to three strikeouts, she’d put the ball in play eight times,’’ Revelle said, recounting her scouting report. “We had been able to see she was pulling the ball against Alabama.

“We felt if we could keep it low and away, we could get her; it was an off-speed pitch.’’

What Revelle didn’t know was that Weekly drilled his hitters on the change-up all week in anticipation of facing ’Huskers ace Molly Hill (25-14).

“I called on Ashton with the bases loaded because I know she is a great change-up hitter,’’ said Weekly, who sat back and watched Ward break the game open with a three-run double.

“Ralph tells us before the game what our role is going to be,’’ said Ward, who was in the bullpen when pitching coach Marty McDaniel told her that her services were needed at the plate. “I love to pitch, but I love to hit, too.’’

UT ace Cat Hosfield loves to pitch, too, but the freshman told Weekly she was tired after surrendering a run in the first inning.

So Weekly went back to the bullpen in the second inning, this time for senior pitcher Danielle Pieroni (8-2).

Nevermind Pieroni had only one-third of an inning of NCAA post-season pitching experience — Weekly felt Pieroni’s change-up and movement would be more effective than the fireballing Hosfield.

Sure enough, Pieroni allowed only two hits and one run in 5 2⁄3 innings of work.

“It was a very good coaching move; she is left-handed and we have a lot of left-handed hitters in our lineup, so that presented some problems,’’ Revelle said. “Anytime a pitcher can mix speeds with spin, it can present some difficulties to a team, and it did.’’

Finally, Weekly’s decision to move junior Erinn Webb up in the lineup continued to pay dividends.

Webb’s lead-off double sparked the pivotal four-run second inning, and she added another RBI double in the fifth to increase the Lady Vols’ cushion.

Late Friday night with UT trailing James Madison 3-2 in the sixth, Weekly called on Nicole Kajitani to bunt and move the runner to second, putting Webb in a two-out situation with the tying run on second. Webb delivered an RBI hit, and the Lady Vols went on to a 4-3 win.

“Not only did she get great hits, but that (sixth-inning) catch against the wall was one of the best I have ever seen,’’ Weekly said. “We found a way to win again today, and that’s what is important in the playoffs.’’