Related videos
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Tennessee softball team arrived at the Women's College World Series on Thursday as a team trying to find itself.
Alas, the only place the seventh-seeded Lady Vols found themselves on Saturday was headed home from ASA Hall of Fame Stadium with a seventh-place finish after losing an elimination game to No. 11 seed Oregon, 3-1.
The Lady Vols (52-14) staved off NCAA tournament elimination on five occasions in regional and super regional action to reach the WCWS, but they hardly resembled the team that won 19 straight entering the SEC tournament.
"You can't put this on any one person; we just didn't hit as a team and we didn't get it done,'' said UT co-head coach Ralph Weekly, whose previous four WCWS teams finished no lower than third. "We got into a team hitting slump over the last two weeks; it's true, we didn't find our groove.''
It didn't seem to matter who was in the circle or in the batters box for UT against the Ducks (45-17) on Saturday — nor against SEC champion Alabama in Thursday night's 5-3 loss, for that matter.
The sister act of pitchers Ellen and Ivy Renfroe struggled to hit their spots and stay ahead in counts, and the 2012 All-American trio of Raven Chavanne, Lauren Gibson and Madison Shipman were a combined 0-for-8 at the plate against Oregon's Jessica Moore (33-14) in what proved to be the season finale as UT went two and out.
The Ducks flew out to a quick lead on sophomore All-American Ellen Renfroe (27-5) on Saturday when Samantha Pappas opened the game with a home run over the center-field wall.
"It was a drop ball, and I left it up in the zone, and she did what she was supposed to do and hit it out,'' said Ellen Renfroe, who pitched two innings before being replaced by Ivy Renfroe.
"Just trying to find a strike zone can be tough coming out ... but as a pitcher and an athlete, you have to learn to settle down and find that strike zone and keep battling for your team.
"I don't think I did a good job of that today.''
Oregon made it 2-0 on Kailee Cuico's single down the left-field line before UT escaped the first inning.
The Lady Vols cut the lead in half in the second inning. Senior Ashley Andrews ignited a two-out rally, singling sharply to right field and stealing second before coming in to score on Tory Lewis' RBI single.
The Ducks padded their lead to 3-1 in the fourth by manufacturing a run off Ivy Renfroe. Christie Nieto crowded the plate enough to be struck by an inside fastball and came around to score when Alexa Peterson laced a double to the wall after Renfroe narrowly missed on a pair of two-strike pitches.
It was the type of run support Moore said Oregon needed to keep its confidence after a couple of close calls had gone against the Ducks in their 3-1 loss to Arizona State on Thursday night.
"We decided we were going to have to make the games unquestionable, and we didn't put ourselves in a situation where the umpire would have to make a tough call and we wouldn't get the break,'' Moore said. "I think the lead-off home run got our wheels turning. I just went at them; I was going to make them beat me.''
The Lady Vols managed just four hits off Moore and failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position in the first and second innings.
Kat Dotson singled and stole second in the first inning, only to have Gibson ground out and, following a Shipman walk, see Melissa Davin ground to short.
In the second inning, Lewis took second on the throw home on her RBI single, but Chavanne grounded weakly back to the pitcher to end the threat.
"She was hitting her spots, and I feel like hitters, myself included, swung at pitches I shouldn't have swung at, and that played into her game,'' said Chavanne, who failed to reach base for only the third time in 57 games. "You live and you learn.''
The Lady Vols weren't able to get a runner past first base the remainder of the game.
"There was no lack of effort, nor lack of heart,'' Weekly said. "We just got beat.''
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 42
tnvols53 writes:
I think our pitching is above average (solid) and our defense is great. But, our offense disappeared during post season. Good luck for next year. GBO !
tovolny writes:
There is always NEXT YEAR. And, next year is looking good. Tomorrow is next year for the Lady Vols. Congratulations on getting to the WCWS this year. But, tomorrow and NEXT YEAR is NOW. I'll be rooting for you. I have confidence.
utvolz#637682 writes:
Can we recruit some players that can actually hit the long ball?
BIVOLAR_BEARE writes:
Great run LV's, came up a little short but we are very proud of the effort..GBO!
SummittsCourt writes:
Anytime a team gets to the World Series they are a good team. Congratulations to the Lady Vols for another great year.
The whole team was flat today for some reason. Maybe that lead off home run took the air out of the sails, but once again the Weekly's failed to get the team up for this game.
WetumpkaThumpa writes:
There is some pitching coming in next year...It's probably not a good idea to have two sisters as your primary pitchers. The nerves got to both of them. That's what cost the Lady Vols in the WCWS. It wasn't the hitting. Should have beaten Bama but Ivy walked four batters in the first inning. After the first inning walk parade was over the Lady Vols outscored the Gumps 3-1.
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
Yes, it was a great season.
No, we're not quite where we need to be.
Yes, the interference call that led to Madison being called out in the 6th inning WAS horse hockey. That rule is just plain wrong.
No, they really aren't better than us.
Let it burn in, ladies. Let it burn in real good. Don't forget it next year.
rtrchatt writes:
Always first class excuses as to why you cannot beat the "Gumps". Looking forward to some new ones come October. Roll Tide
Little 'ole Alabama with 3 National Titles this school year and maybe 2 more in the next few days. Roll Tide
jimbotn writes:
I don't think I would take a cheap shot at the coaches. They convince athletes from all over the country to come here. Real fans appreciate the success they have brought to UT. We attend the games and really appreciate how exciting this sport is for spectators. Thank you Ralph and Karen and thanks to the Lady Vols for all the entertainment they have provided.
AlexAndersonAAradio writes:
Congratulations girls on a fine season. I'm already looking to next year.
Theo writes:
Well, I was going to root for a fellow SEC team but I won't now. Way to show your a** Chatt. BTW if I lived in as big a pit as Chattanooga I wouldn't advertise it.
underthehill writes:
I did not see a lack of effort..I thought it might have helped to mix up the pitches a little more and hit the spots better..sometimes just have to give credit to the other teams..but getting to the CSWS is not a bad season....
BambooBoy writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
WetumpkaThumpa writes:
You are the definition of a Gump fan. Always on another teams website and showing off your classy ways. Congratulations on your non life.
WetumpkaThumpa writes:
http://deepsouthsports.blogspot.com/2...
LadyVolsFan71 writes:
Great season Lady Vol's.
orangecountyvols writes:
Vols,
Here's my little FWIW. First, congratulations on a fine season. Yes, next season should be another good one. To be honest, losing the Alabama game as we did pretty much insured an early trip home. No one comes out of the losing bracket to win the thing.
Johnlg. I'd like to hear what you think about the way things went. Obviously, the Lady Vols are a better team if they don't have to play the first inning. This year, they lost games early and late. Ellen struggled with confidence late in the season and Ivy struggled with control. Umpiring?
What's with the strike zone ( even for both teams, mind you. ) The ump would not give Ivy the outside plate ( after we cut the lead to 2-1 ) so instead of calling the batter out, that made it a 3-2 count........and Ivy had to bring it back across the plate, which then resulted in a hit and an RBI.
Yes, the girls are in need of a few more players who can reach the fences. Maybe some of those nose guard looking players some of the other teams have.
Oh BTW, Mr. Chattanooga chatterbox........another troll, we were considering pulling for Alabama but red neck trolls such as you do make it a challenge to do so. A suggestion for you, don't be to sure about Alabama's chances from this point on. That's one thing we have noticed about trolls like you.........you may win games, but do not have any conception of what winning with class is.
frblalack writes:
CONGRATULATIONS on an OUTSTANDING YEAR LADY VOLS!
LOVE MY LADY VOLS!
nvavol writes:
I think that the Lady Vols are to be congratulated for the very good season that they had, but I also think that in most games they were handicapped by the Weekly coaching duo. The players won based upon their talent and not the coaching they were receiving. I think that all too often, the Weekly's took the bat away by coaching for (1) "waiting for the perfect pitch", which often resulted in the batter having 2 strikes and then having to swing at anything that was remotely near the plate and (2) trying to slap hit most of the time and hoping to beat the throw to 1st base but usually resulting in easy ground balls to the infield. I doubt if any opposing teams feared any Tennessee power hitters because Weekly was not going to let them hit away. The Ivy pitchers probably felt quite a bit of pressure because they surely knew that if the opponents scored 2 or 3 runs that the Lady Vols did not have the offense to over come that small of a deficit.
kazoo writes:
Good season but very poor effort in the CWS. The Renfroes pitched badly early in both games, the Vols fell behind and did not have the hitting to recover. You can't give up runs in the first inning against good teams and expect to win. The pitching against bama in the first inning was terrible and cost UT the game. This game we also fell behind but not by much, but there was little hitting.
In the sixth inning today, trailing by 2 runs and with a Vol on first, two consecutive hitters swung at first-pitch balls and grounded into fielders' choices. Poor decisions--maybe even poor coaching. In that situation the hitters should have been taking a strike. You need base runners and thus need to work the pitcher--make her throw strikes. Instead, they swung at bad (first) pitches and grounded out, made it easy for Oregon, and we got no runs.
Your pitchers have to get the team into games and then keep them there--and that didn't happen. And they our hitting petered out. Too bad. Certainly had a better team than we showed in these last two games.
ps11824 writes:
Thanks to the Weekly's for a good season. Winning the way to the WCS is something many teams have not experienced. We've played against the best all season, and we've beaten quality teams along the way.
We did not bring our A-game to Oklahoma. The best teams have slumps too. We had ours at the wrong time. Lady Vols are first class, winning or in defeat.
arkyvol writes:
deja vu all over again. the renfroe girls aren't in the same league with monica abbott, but they have the same lack of support. is there anybody on this team who can jack a ball into the outfield?
GONAVY (Inactive) writes:
Does this team only have two pitchers that are sisters?
oldvoltimer62 writes:
Thanks for a great season Lady Vols i hate that ended without beatin bama in the first game.Next season if nothing else BEAT BAMA! GO VOLS!!!
Tgordon writes:
A great season from a team with real heart. Not a thing to be ashamed of...Go Vols!
TNlogfire writes:
wow...we deserved exactly what we got today...now, we regroup, wipe the makeup off....and vow to get better...
proudveteran writes:
The TV commentators more than once were critical of the UT pitchers for lack of ball movement and offered some illustrations.Maybe they need some special pitching coaching to improve. The offense seems to lack the critical desire to compete. Defensively they are very good, but just do not seem to have a "killer"instinct. Hopefully they will improve next year.
volfan73120#211815 writes:
Good post.
volzrock54 writes:
Well when the rolling turds get beat when they face a good west coast team you can take that off your wish list for the year... Roll Turd!
cdtnladyvols931#663910 writes:
You are so right! We did not get hits when we needed too! Still had a Great Season! Post Season is not the time to struggle! Most teams don't even make it to the WCWS. As they say learn from this experience, work to get better in the off-season! Go Lady Vols!!!
fearthehound writes:
I just think the whole slap hitting shtick is passe. In the old days you did that because a fast runner could hit the ball to the short stop and beat it out--those days are over. The infielders now can field and fire the ball.
Our girls are cute, but they aren't beating the er...um...'athletes' they're going up against. We have great defense, decent to good pitching, and no hitting. Time for a new direction in the hitting department.
fearthehound writes:
I always pull for the SEC, except when bama's involved...mainly because of a--holes like you, who seem to mainly make up the bama fan base.
snafu14u#241639 writes:
Bingo. I stated this 4 days ago and got roasted. Great overall season, but this is a continuing storyline. And I hope the Weekly's coach at UT for a long time as they are great people, but not good game day coaches. Bonzaivol
UTistheOLEMISSoftheEAST writes:
Shoulda
Coulda
Woulda
Yawn
fearthehound writes:
You shoulda get a job
You coulda have a real life
You woulda not have time to troll other teams' fan sites.
Loser
ClassicVol writes:
Pitching and hitting. Otherwise good season Vols.
punkin writes:
And two more court dates. When's yours Harvey?
williamt1948#1378584 writes:
Arizona State is a Pac 12 member genius and defending NC,a team we just beat.
BIVOLAR_BEARE writes:
I would say making the WSCS isn't just losing a tourney..There are several hundred schools that fell short of that mark..In fact SEC tourney winner UF didn't make it out of their own hosted regional..HBTV!
madrigal writes:
Hey, they made it to to the WCWS....stop the hating already! How many schools can say that? Nice try, ladies.....better luck next year!
orangecountyvols writes:
Vols,
Consider the source with the pitiful troll........just as he mentions, "Trolling is fun." In other words, a few weirdos do enjoy the lifestyle of being a jerk. Sick
Coach_K writes:
Yeah, lets fire the most successful coach(es) the program has ever had. I'm sure we can get the best coach in the nation to come on board. Eighth best in the country just isn't good enough for us. We should totally be number one. I mean we did it in football and baseball, just look at the success they have had since we made the "tough call".
People never fail to amaze me. If you didn't mean you want to see them gone, only to offer criticism, then I apologize in advance.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.