2013 Softball World Series Knoxville Super Regional Breakdown
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
How They Advanced:
#7 Tennessee had no trouble in their opener, shutting down an overmatched Longwood 9-0. Ivy Renfroe picked up the five inning win and Cheyanne Turango collected five RBIs. The game of the day in Knoxville found the Vols and NC State (2-0 winners over James Madison in the opener-Bethaney Wells two-run sixth inning home run) locked in a scoreless pitcher’s duel through 10 innings of play. This time it would be Ellen Renfroe in the circle, who gave up just four hits while collecting 13 strikeouts in a complete game effort. A triple by Rainey Gaffin in the bottom of the 11th drove in Turango with the walk off win.
North Carolina State would have to wait for Sunday to complete their rain-delayed contest against James Madison in the elimination game, but posted three runs in the third and one each in the fifth and seventh to earn a second chance at Tennessee. Emily Weiman picked up the complete game victory.
Raven Chavanne, Madison Shipman and Kat Dotson got Tennessee started on Sunday with singles in the first and a double steal scored Dotson as the Vols jumped out to a 2-0 lead. They tacked on five more in the ensuing innings to back Ivy Renfroe’s one hitter. Shipman hit a two run dinger in the second. Tennessee advances to host the Super Regional.
From Tuscaloosa…
The defending National Champion Crimson Tide took an interesting path to Sunday’s rematch showdown with Western Kentucky. Alabama waited out a two hour rain delay, then Leslie Jury shut down Jacksonville State 4-0 on eight hits. Kayla Braud was 3-4 in the contest and Kaila Hunt and Jadyn Spencer each homered. Facing Western Kentucky in a game that featured five lead changes, Jury picked up the win in relief of Jackie Traina with the Tide posting the winning run in the bottom of the sixth. Braud was 2 for 3.
Western Kentucky advanced in the elimination contest by besting the A-Sun’s South Carolina Upstate 3-0, with the Hilltoppers’ Mallorie Sulaski giving up just two hits.
Western Kentucky found themselves behind early as Alabama’s Molly Fichtner drove in a red hot Kayla Braud to score the game’s first run in the top of the first. Kaila Hunt broke the game open in the second with a grand slam, part of six total runs in the inning. The barrage continued with two more runs in the fourth and four in the fifth as Alabama was able to pull Traina, insert Jury and advance with a13-1, five inning victory.
Super Regional Projection:
Although ‘Bama will have to travel and were tested at the regional, Jackie Traina and company will be a tall task for the Volunteers. Close enough to taste a return to the World Series, the Tide has a Crimson-Hot Kayla Braud to ride, and Jury gained valuable playoff experience. The Vols sputtered down the stretch and played some stressful innings in Knoxville this weekend. If Tennessee is to advance, the Renfroe sisters and SEC star Lauren Gibson will have to carry the load. Take Alabama in the All-SEC matchup in a three game set.
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