GAINESVILLE — The second week in May at the SEC tournament in Lexington, Ky. — that’s the next time the Tennessee softball team could see Lauren Haeger and the Florida Gators.
If that comes to fruition, there is no doubt Haeger’s performance from this weekend will be remembered.
The sophomore from Peoria, Ariz. hit two home runs Sunday for the No. 3 Gators: a three-run shot to tie the game 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth and a two-run, walk-off home run to win it 5-3 for Florida in the bottom of the eighth.
“I take my hat off to anyone who can step in the eighth and hit a home run out to win a ball game,” UT co-head coach Ralph Weekly said of Haeger’s heroics. “A walk-off is big time.”
Sunday was the fourth consecutive game that Tennessee and Florida played eight innings.
All three hits in Haeger’s 10 plate appearances during the three-game series were home runs. She had 10 RBIs and also pitched 10 innings earning a win and a loss.
Weekly’s game plan was to have starting pitcher Ellen Renfroe go four innings before handing the ball off to her sister, Ivy. But early on during Sunday’s rubber game, Ellen seemed almost as masterful as she was on Saturday when she struck out 14 Gators.
Renfroe was working with a 3-0 cushion thanks to runs scored in the second, third and sixth innings for UT. Gator pitcher Hannah Rogers hit UT catcher Hannah Akamine in the second inning with the bases loaded, giving the Lady Vols a 1-0 lead. In the top of third inning, Lauren Gibson hit a lead-off home run, her sixth of the season, to extend the Tennessee lead. Gibson delivered again in the sixth with an RBI single making it a three-run Lady Vols lead.
Then Haeger went to work. Her three-run blast came off Ellen Renfroe and just cleared the left centerfield wall.
Ivy Renfroe replaced Ellen after the home run.
When Haeger came to the plate in the eighth, Weekly felt like they had to pitch to the slugger.
“We couldn’t pitch around,” said Weekly. “That would put runners on first and second with nobody out. When I called time I went in and said (to relief pitcher Ivy Renfroe) ‘We are going to keep it low and hard’ and I don’t think that was low.”
Gibson was Tennessee’s leading hitter in the series, going 4-for-9 with two home runs, four RBIs and four runs. The senior’s average improved to a team-high .425.
Tennessee (23-6, 3-3) returns to action Tuesday for a home game against Murray State at 6 p.m.
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Comments » 11
8inarow writes:
Darn those Gators!
voloffaith writes:
Nice post Ms. Haeger
huntined#565710 writes:
Well we played 6 games against number 1 and number 3 we won 3 lost 3 and all of the last games went past 7 in. We had a great chance in every game and I think these ladies did real well. Look forward for great things this year!!!
SummittsCourt writes:
Great, show up only when your team wins.
BTW, Go Rebels!
SummittsCourt writes:
THANKS KNS! You have gotten this only show the softball articles on the front page when they lose down pat.
soitgoes12 writes:
Too many people left on base, not enough clutch hits an leaving a pitcher in 1 inning too long. Sounds about right for this team. This team has too much talent to let teams come back as much as they do.
GR82BTNVOL writes:
Agree, you had to drill into the website to find anything on the lady vols when they won, but KNS is johnny on the spot when they lose.
cyclonevol87 writes:
Totally agree dont understand that.
orangecountyvols writes:
Vols,
Did you watch it? I turned away from the basketball games to watch it on ESPN3.
I still haven't gotten over that Sunday game.
We were up 3-0 going to the bottom of the 6th.
Ellen did what has been all too familiar in these late innings. Walked the leadoff batter on 4 pitches. I forgot how the 2nd runner got on but..............
the lizard offensive tackle lookalike should have been called for a 3rd strike, the replays showed it. Even Ralph came out and voiced his opinion.
Then came the 3 run homer next pitch.
When they went to the bottom of the eighth, you pretty much could expect the same thing. I didn't stick round after the 3-3 tie, but wan't surprised to learn of the 2nd gopher ball served up.
Also, Ralph and Karen do a great job..........the record proves it. My only real question is serving up leadoff walks and the gopher balls.
But I did question the girls left on base. ( 10 through 6 innings. )
We had one inning with girls on 1st and 2nd, with noone out. Instead of sacrificing to get the runners over, we were hitting, had a fly out,then the lizards got the last two out.
Big series when the red elephant offensive tackle lookalikes come to town.
huntined#565710 writes:
They were smarter in last innings they walked Gibson and we pitched to their best home run hitter.
soitgoes12 writes:
"We had one inning with girls on 1st and 2nd, with noone out. Instead of sacrificing to get the runners over, we were hitting, had a fly out,then the lizards got the last two out."
Actually, that was the inning where we lined into a double play. An error and a hit followed, scoring 1 run but a no brainer sacrifice would have scored 2 in the inning.
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