2004 NCAA Softball Regional -- Game 10 Recap
5/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
2004 NCAA Softball Regional
#11 Tennessee 4, DePaul 0
Game 10 -- Saturday, May 22 -- 7:05 p.m.
Alumni Field, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Records: Tennessee (55-15), DePaul (30-31-1)
Next Tennessee Game: Saturday or Sunday, May 22-23 -- vs. Illinois-Chicago, time TBA
Next DePaul Game: DePaul eliminated with 1-2 record
Tennessee Advances in Regional with Shutout of DePaul
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 2 seed Tennessee Lady Vols shut out No. 5 seed DePaul 4-0 in an elimination game Saturday (May 22) in the NCAA Regional 6 Softball Tournament at Alumni Field. Tennessee plated three runs on a home run by Angela Brewer in the top of the first inning and then scored one more in the fourth to earn its school-record 55th victory of the season. Monica Abbott struck out 10 batters in a strong outing, earning her 24th shutout of the season. For the Blue Demons, Saskia Roberson and Christina Douglas each notched a hit in the losing effort.
The Lady Vols got on the board early with three runs in the top of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Sarah Fekete reached on an error and Kristi Durant singled to right-center to place runners on first and third for Brewer. The senior stepped up to the plate and sent a home run over the rightfield wall to give Tennessee a 3-0 advantage.
The two teams struggled to find their offense over the next two and a half innings, with only one hit being recorded between the two teams through the third inning. Then in the top of the fourth, Tennessee loaded the bases with a leadoff double, a walk and a single to shortstop to start the inning. Mandie Fishback then hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to bring home the Lady Vols fourth run of the game.
Abbott closed out the game strong, allowing only two hits over the remaining four innings and striking out three batters. DePaul was never able to get its offense on track, failing to advance a runner past second base throughout the game.
Tennessee advances to face Illinois-Chicago either late tonight, if the game can be started before midnight, or Sunday (March 23) at 9:30 a.m.
N O T E S
Tennessee set a school record with its 55th victory of the season. The Lady Vols' previous mark was 54 wins, which they accomplished in 1996, the first season of the program.
Tennessee freshman pitcher Monica Abbott threw herth 24 shutout and 13th two-hitter of the season.
DePaul is now 20-16 in 10 NCAA Regional appearances. The Blue Demons finished the season with a record of 30-31-1.
Q U O T E S
Tennessee Co-Head Coach Ralph Weekly
Opening statement ... "We told our kids before the game that we'd like to have a win for two reasons: one, that the seniors would be able to play together another day and two, that we would break the school records for school wins, which was 54. They responded, and I thought that we played really well. I thought Angela Brewer's attack on the ball was really important."
Tennessee Senior First Baseman Angela Brewer
On her first-inning home run ... "I went up there with [swinging on the first pitch] in mind because I noticed that the three batters before she was throwing first-pitch strikes to and Karen (Weekly, co-head coach) said she was throwing all the lefties out, and being the first righthanded hitter I was just looking for anything around the plate. I think that gave our team that extra boost. We came out here today ready to play anyway, the second game. We were very loose and excited and I think that being ready helped us a lot as a team."
DePaul Head Coach Eugene Lenti
On DePaul's season ... "This is about as far as any ball team has come from where we were. To come out of here with a win at the NCAA tournament and to win our conference championship, we've reached a lot of our goals. Not every team can make it to the NCAA tournament and win a game and be competitive and that's what we were so we really feel like we've accomplished as much as we could in the circumstances of what kind of year we had."
