|
2013 FALL SOFTBALL EXHIBITION SEASON RECAP
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The
Tennessee softball team recently wrapped its 2013 fall exhibition
season. The Lady Vols went 8-0 in exhibition games with several of its
younger stars enjoying standout performances.
"I
was proud of our kids," Tennessee co-head coach Ralph Weekly said.
"With Madison Shipman, Melissa Davin and Erin Gabriel still recovering
from injuries and a myriad of other players' injuries, we used a
patchwork lineup of freshmen and younger players. It was a great
opportunity to see a lot of new players. Heck, our starting catcher,
Hannah Akamine, played at short all eight games and did reasonably
well."
The Lady Vols hit .339 as a team and
outscored opponents, 63-6. The breakout star of the fall was freshman
Megan Geer. The Los Alamitos, Calif., native played the outfield and
infield and hit .520 (13-for-25) with five homers, two doubles, one
triple, 13 RBIs and 15 runs. Fellow freshmen Taylor Koenig (.364
batting average, one homer, one double, five RBIs) and Annie Aldrete
(.333 batting average, one homer, five doubles, nine RBIs) also gave
fans a glimpse of their outstanding potential.
Sophomores
Rainey Gaffin and Lexi Overstreet showed that they are prepared to make
major leaps forward in their second year in Knoxville. Gaffin hit .500
(11-for-22) with four doubles, six RBIs and five stolen bases.
Overstreet had two homers, two doubles and 10 RBIs, while hitting .389.
In
the circle, UT pitchers combined for a 0.89 ERA and held batters to a
.117 batting average. Senior ace Ellen Renfroe was in midseason form,
going 4-0 while throwing 25.0 shutout frames with 48 strikeouts and
just four hits allowed. Gaffin saw some action in the circle, posting a
1.75 ERA and 12 strikeouts over eight innings.
The
Tennessee softball season starts on Feb. 7, 2014, when the Lady Vols
take on Northern Colorado at the Georgia Southern Tournament in
Statesboro, Ga. UT's first home game at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium is on
March 5 against Wright State. The Lady Vols' first SEC home series of
the season is against South Carolina with three games from March 21-23.
Tennessee
enjoyed one of the finest seasons in program history in 2013, finishing
as the national runner-up, making its sixth Women's College World
Series appearance in nine years and posting its eighth 50-win season
with a final record of 52-12. UT returns several key players from its
2013 WCWS Championship Series run, including All-American seniors
Renfroe (2011, 2012) and Shipman (2012, 2013). With 11 returning
veterans and seven exciting newcomers, Tennessee is primed for another
big season and has goals that culminate in Oklahoma City.
|
