Box Score

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Freshman Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach went 2-for-2 at the plate to log her squad's only hits of the outing, as the Longwood University softball team fell to No. 7 seeded the University of Tennessee (45-10) in five innings at the Knoxville Regional at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on Friday evening. The Lady Vols, who had a base runner in every inning, pulled away with four runs in the third en route to the victory. Sophomore pitcher Libby Morris/Dillwyn recorded the decision in the circle for the Lancers (41-19) with seven hits and one strikeout in 3.2 innings of work. Tennessee advances to take on North Carolina State University at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. Longwood moves to the losers' bracket and will square off against James Madison University in an elimination game at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

“Anytime you play somebody good, they force you not to miss pitches or do different things,” said head coach Kathy Riley. “Tennessee had two runners on [in the third], and then we threw a pretty good pitch and they hit it off the end of the bat. When the next batter came up and hit the home run, we just didn't do a very good job of setting her up, so then they had four runs with a minimal amount of mistakes. That's just the nature of playing a team that's talented.”

Longwood was retired in order in its first at-bat, as UT pitcher Ivy Renfroe dealt three-straight strikeouts to the side. In Tennessee's first trip to the dish, the squad's leadoff batter connected on a changeup, but Murphy cleanly fielded the slow roller and made the play at first. The next batter doubled to right center and the Lancers intentionally walked Lauren Gibson to put runners on first and second. Both Lady Vols advanced on the bases thanks to a groundout, but Morris came back with a big strikeout to extinguish the opportunity and keep the game scoreless.

Longwood threatened to get on the board in the top of the second. Sophomore Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, California sent a roller back to the pitcher, but was unable to beat the throw at first. However, Murphy quickly followed with the squad's first hit of the game, poking a looping fly to left field. Freshman Carly Adams/Colonial Heights successfully laid down the sacrifice bunt to put the runner in scoring position. In the next at-bat, Cox then battled back to draw a walk, but the team was unable to capitalize, as freshman Jamie Barbour/Amelia connected on a check swing that rolled down the third base line to end the opportunity. The scoreless stalemate continued through the bottom of the inning, as Longwood recorded two quick outs, and after a single that found a hole through the left side, sophomore Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, Calif. tracked down a long fly ball in center to retire the side.

In the top of the third, Tennessee notched three-consecutive strikeouts before breaking the game open in the home half of the inning. Murphy earned a hard out to start off the inning, charging towards the ball and fielding it on a short hop to get the Lady Vols' speedy leadoff batter. However, a walk and another intentional walk set up a two-out, opposite-field base hit that cleanly scored UT's first runner. Sciacca made a strong throw to the plate on the play, but the sliding runner kicked the ball out of the glove of sophomore catcher Megan Baltzell/Stafford to make it 2-0 in favor of the home team. The next batter in the Lady Vols' lineup turned on the first pitch she saw and sent a long ball high and deep over the fence in straight-away center put UT ahead, 4-0.

Senior Brooke Short/Hurt flew out just shy of the warning track in right in the top of the fourth before Sciacca grounded out to the second baseman. Murphy extended the inning when she legged out an infield single, and advanced a bag on a wild pitch, but Adams was too far in front of the off-speed pitch and popped out to first. Tennessee put the game out of reach in the home half of the fourth. A hit batter and a bunt single put Lady Vols on first and second. Nishitomi recorded the second out of the inning with a basket-catch in left field, but a walk loaded the bases for the clean up-hitter, Madison Shipman, who lined a double to left center to score a pair of runs and give UT a 6-0 advantage. Cheyanne Tarango followed with a home run off the light pole in left field, making it 9-0. Senior Ashley Cornell/Portsmouth came out of the bullpen in relief and Sciacca snagged a liner to right to end the inning. In the Lancers final trip to the plate, Tennessee forced three-straight groundouts to earn the mercy-rule victory.