Tennessee's regular-season finale at Lee Stadium was pretty much in hand for the Lady Vols' softball team against LSU.
But business was business for Nicole "Peanut" Kajitani.
The Lady Vols' diminutive senior, who goes 5-foot-1 and 125 pounds, wanted to score after tagging up on Shelby Burchell's shallow fly ball.
LSU catcher Morgan Russell, roughly 5-7 and 165 pounds, was 6 feet up the baseline and blocking home plate - despite not having the ball.
A collision ensued that would have made any Vols tailback proud, as Kajitani plowed over the Tigers' catcher to score the final run in a 6-1 victory before a crowd of 854 Sunday.
"If I'd run around her, she might have a chance to get the ball and tag me,'' Kajitani said. "It's a matter of wanting to get your base, and focusing on that.''
It also was a matter of 18th-ranked Tennessee (41-12, 17-8 SEC) wanting some momentum entering the SEC tournament. The Lady Vols open tournament play Thursday in Fayetteville, Ark., against 10th-ranked Georgia (42-10, 18-8). Gametime has yet to be determined.
All games will be televised by ESPNU.
"Today was about playing ball and just going all out,'' UT sophomore Jessica Spigner said. "We blew our chance to finish third in the SEC losing one to them (Saturday), but we wanted to win this series.''
LSU (42-13, 20-8) opened the scoring with a run in the first, but Lady Vols freshman pitcher Ivy Renfroe (25-4) escaped the bases-loaded jam without further damage.
UT rallied with four runs in the third sparked by captain Kelly Grieve's two-out RBI double. Freshman Lauren Gibson stayed hot with an RBI single that gave the Lady Vols a 2-1 lead.
Spigner followed with a two-run double that made it 4-1, chasing LSU starter Rachele Fico (18-5) in the process.
Fico entered the game with an SEC-best 1.03 ERA.
UT added two runs in the sixth when Melissa Brown dropped an RBI double down the left-field line that also moved Kajitani to third base and set the stage for the home-plate collision.
"LSU is a physical team, and they play hard,'' said Ralph Weekly, who along with his wife, Karen, serves as UT's co-head coach. "But we play hard, too, and Kajitani is a tough kid.''
Spigner said the play should send a message.
"We're not just going to let teams push us around,'' she said "If you're going to push us, we're going to push back.''
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 9
USNVOL writes:
Great win,go Lady Vols!
wayoutwill writes:
There is a good lil' team trying to get even better here on the Vols lady softball team.The future is bright and it is talent that will take this team deep into the tourney this year with the lady vole getting a lot of much needed tourney experience if they play up to the capabilitie that they have.that lil' ole peanut clobbered that LSU catcher and she deserved it for blocking the plate;heck,she didn't even have the ball.It will be nice to see this young team catch fire and win the SEC tourney and I got a funny feeling that that's what is about to happen.I would give a shiny peeny to see them get into the NCAA and make a run at the title.It would make them the team to watch out for over the next three years as they continue to prove that the SEC can and will get a title!
givehim6 writes:
Women & Men both getting it done on the diamond also. Like they did on the courts a few months ago. I love it! Hope the guys take care of business on the gridiron this fall.
VOLsince68 writes:
Awesome job ladies. Keep up the good work and let's make a run in the tourneys.
GO LADY VOLS!!!!!!
volboy81 writes:
wish I had of seen that collision! I guess next time LSWho wont stand in the base path! Good luck in Fayetteville!
civilianvol_formerly_marinevol writes:
gasp!
V_O_L_S_GO_VOLS_GO writes:
I love homeplate collisions!
lewhs93#205993 writes:
Saw both wins on tv here in Fl.Peanuts sent a strong message.Great pitching and defense are hard to beat.I will be watching Thur.GO LADY VOLS.
Georgia_Dave writes:
Georgia Dave has always said that we don't have no wimpy girls at TN, our LADIES are tough as nails. Way to go Peanut, you proved me right. GLV's in Fayetteville and beyond!
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