OKLAHOMA CITY — Tennessee's troubles at the Women's College World Series started and all but ended in the first innings of both games.
Both Alabama (57-7) and Oregon (45-17) got enough run support in the opening inning of their softball victories against the Lady Vols (52-14) to overcome UT's sporadic offense.
The Ducks struck for two runs against sophomore All-American Ellen Renfroe (27-5) en route to a 3-1 victory in Saturday's elimination game.
Two days earlier, Alabama put up four runs in the first off UT's WCWS veteran pitcher, junior Ivy Renfroe, and went on to a 5-3 victory.
"We gave up six runs in the first innings here against very good teams,'' UT co-head coach Ralph Weekly said. "Of course you can't do that.''
The starts were uncharacteristic; the Lady Vols had given up a total of 12 runs in the first innings of their previous 64 games.
The first-inning deficits were ominous. Seven of UT's 14 losses this season came when opponents scored first.
"What made it tougher is we faced two very good down-ball pitchers who had good changeups, and we hit a lot of ground balls,'' Weekly said.
Cheek Travels: UT chancellor Jimmy Cheek made his first trip to the WCWS, accompanying former Lady Vols women's athletic director Joan Cronan.
"We made the decision to come out last week when they qualified for the world series,'' said Cheek, who flew in on Friday from the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Fla. "The first thing I've noticed is we have so many Lady Vols fans here to cheer on the team, and that shows the dedication of our fans toward our teams.
"I had the opportunity to go to a team dinner earlier this season, and our young ladies do a fantastic job representing us academically and athletically.''
Ugly Numbers: After hitting .302 this season and finishing second behind Alabama in hitting in the SEC, Tennessee hitters were 9-for-50 (.180 avg.) in two WCWS games.
Sophomore Melissa Davin had the highest batting average, going 2-for-5 including a two-run homer in the loss to the Crimson Tide. Junior Kat Dotson was 2-for-6 hitting.
UT's other five hits came from Raven Chavanne (1-for-7), Lauren Gibson (1-for-6), Melissa Brown (1-for-5), Tory Lewis (1-for-5) and Ashley Andrews (1-for-3).
The Lady Vols' team ERA of 1.51 ranked second in the SEC and 10th in the nation in the regular season, but at the WCWS, sisters Ellen Renfroe and Ivy Renfroe combined for a 3.50 ERA.
Ivy Renfroe pitched 7 2/3 innings, surrendering four earned runs, six hits and four walks. Ellen Renfroe threw 5 1/3 innings, yielding three earned runs, five hits and four walks.
Bright Spot: The Lady Vols were 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts (Madison Shipman, Lewis, Dotson and Andrews), while Andrews threw out both runners attempting to steal against Tennessee in the WCWS.
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 16
fearthehound writes:
Don't get me wrong, I like the Weeklys. I think they're good coaches and great recruiters, but I think they tend to over-coach a little sometimes. They seem to think it's a little too much about them. Let Ivy or Ellen throw two or three bad pitches and they're in there jerking them out. Seems to me they need to use their great skills of attracting superior talent, coaching them like heck in practice, and then just turn them loose. They need to recruit some heavy hitters, too. Lay off of these slap hitters. I don;t think that's the future of womens's softball.
Just my opinion--I'm certainly no softball expert.
orangecountyvols writes:
A lot of truth in what you say. One thing we all need to remember is while we down play our own team's ability and performances, we often forget to acknowledge that the teams we played were pretty good too and had pitchers that over powered us.
Could be Tennessee was a bit overwhelmed by the task at hand. We weren't the only team which utilized the slap hitting method. However we did not possess the portly looking power hitters which some teams do have. On occasion, some of Tennessee's smallish hitters could take one out of the yard, but just occasionally. The speed factor is what they counted on this season. And once again, we are seeing pitchers who are imposing in stature in the circle. Our girls don't look to need to lose 20 or 30 pounds but instead they try to move the ball around and finesse their pitches.
The Lady Vols will learn from this and will be okay. Just a matter of finding the missing pieces and looking back at where we fell short..........and working on those things. Regardless of the outcome, I wouldn't trade our girls for anyone else's.
SummittsCourt writes:
I agree with you about the Weekly's - overall great coaches and recruiters - Afterall, the Lady Vols have been to 5 world series.
But, it seems they get there and to me they stop coaching. Both games this year the team was flat and uninspired - that's coaching. They were nervous and played like they knew they couldn't win - that's coaching. Sure the players deserve some accountability but the coaches have got to be motivators.
Also, I noticed in yesterday's game twice the Lady Vols had the lead off runner on first and twice the next batter hit into double plays or almost double plays. What happened to laying down a bunt and moving the runner over? They were only down 1 run. Those two runners would have been on second with 1 out. Or better yet, steal second and then bunt them over to third?
The Weeklys deserve most of the blame if we are blaming someone for their poor showing. However, they did get the team there and for that I am proud of the entire team. They were the only UT team men or women, that actually had the opportunity to compete for a National Championship.
Next year this team will be better as they will have 7 seniors and another great recruiting class.
SummittsCourt writes:
Most of those "portly" hitters you speak about may hit home runs, but they bat around the .150 range. Home runs do make a big impact, but the Weeklys are for speed and putting the pressure on the defense. They've had HR hitters in the past and I believe they will have them again, just not this year.
The Renfro sisters lost confidence somewhere before they arrived to the WCWS. I would have bet the house that they would not have pitched the way they did this weekend. Glad I didn't.
rtrchatt writes:
PAC 12 SB is the best, and there are many reasons the SEC has never won the title.
wagee12 writes:
One of the great and most idiotic statements in the history of this site, home runs don't make a difference. Haw, haw, what about gap shots and line drives down the foul lines? One shouldn't comment about softball if one has no clue. Anemic offense, no lock down pitcher who can shutout the other team equals two and out at the WS. Too many weak hitters in the lineup and slap happy Ralph is not much punkin as an offensive coach.
frblalack writes:
If we had won the WCWS the above posters would be raving about what great coaches we have! In truth we have the BEST coaches, period! Neither Karen nor Ralph failed to get a clutch hit, made a bad pitch, or made a bad play. Our Lady Vols represented the University with class and dignity! Sure it would have been great if we'd gotten a few more hits, made some better pitches, and not made any errant fielding plays...I would have preferred that we won. But to lay blame on our Coaches is absurd! We didn't lose for lack of motivation or coaches' judgement; we lost because we did not play our best AND the other teams simply played better.
Let's don't cry over spilled milk; WE had a great season. Making it to the WCWS is quite an accomplishment in itself. Now let's hope next year we can win it! But until then, EVERYONE should be proud of our Lady Vols!!!
All Vols - All the Time - Vol for Life - Believe!
BIVOLAR_BEARE writes:
The Renfroe's didn't pitch their best and I believe the whole team was awe struck in the moment..They played like a deer in the headlight both games..This isn't UT's first rodeo as far as WSCS is concerned, but they sure acted like they had never been there before..Just a thought & GBO!!
orangecountyvols writes:
FR,
I agree friend. One of the most intelligent responses yet.
Do not, I repeat do NOT put a lot of credence into anything the kid/Great/troll has to say.
We can consider the source and be surprised the kid didn't interject something about you-know-who, the one he's consumed with......the one who owns him.
On topic, the Lady Vols will be back. Looking forward to it !
BillsBrother writes:
A lot of these posters write as if they know softball because they watch baseball on TV.
After the Weekly's coach them, the girls are the ones that have to throw the ball, catch the ball and hit the ball.
Recruit heavy hitters....Weekly's overcoached......thhhpppppttt.
Lady Vols has a fine season and didn't get it done on the field in the last series. That's all.
scvols writes:
To me, it just looked like the cruse of UT sports hit the softball team too. Last years football, then men's basketball, baseball team, so on and so on. The Lady's BB did lose the the NC, so I don't count them. Over all, the SB team still had a great season, and next year should be better.
underthehill writes:
Bama and Oklahoma changed that this year..I would have preferred it would have been the Lady Vols but congratulations to Bama and the Okies...
underthehill writes:
Brother, I'd guess the posters you refer to have never played competitive sports and have no idea what they are seeing..for the Lady Vols to make the final 8 was a great season..look at the many excellent teams they finished ahead of..and the teams who beat UT were just better..
ps11824 writes:
Folks need to shut up about a curse. The only thing that keeps that idea alive is people constantly talking about. The real curse may just be our negative thinking...
blaz2102 writes:
Need to do some homework here folks. Tennessee DOES have power hitters. Shipman, Davin, Gibson, and Chevanne are all power hitters. But here's the thing....you gotta hit. All these girls can hit the long ball, at the end of the day no matter what TYPE of hitter you have you still have to hit. If all you do is recruit a big hitter then thats what you get. Shipman for instance is a big hitter who can also play defense and is fast. Its not the physical issue of not having big hitters....its the mental game of hitting, period. We have the talent, but I cant explain why we didnt hit either. It's Seems like the harder they tried the worse it got. Thats VERY typical of very intelligent, gifted athletes. Over analyzing and overthinking can kill a hitter. You're going to get struck out. How you handle it is another thing. Elite athletes take slumps personal. They have to have a very short memory and dont need to be around negativity all the time. I garrantee you the girls on this team take every loss and strike out very personal. As do the coaches. Some of the things a coach has to do is lead, comfort and protect the players and their "ego's". Not just coach baseball/softball. However and especially at big programs like Tennessee I am sure coaches are under enormous pressure to produce. That pressure at some point has to bleed over to the team, and thats when the wheels can come off the track. Its an extremely difficult balancing act, especially in any diamond sport (Baseball/Softball).
halloffamebowler writes:
listen up folks. The great one has spoken.
He has been invited to the softball banquet as the motivational speaker.
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