Runs no problem for Lady Vols

By Mike Griffith
Published Sunday, October 25, 2009

The Tennessee Lady Vols softball team swept through their Fall Classic invitational at Lee Stadium last weekend undefeated.

UT went 8-0 in the scrimmage games, scoring 82 runs, including 10 runs or more in seven of the eight contests it played.

The sweep at the Fall Classic left the Lady Vols with an undefeated record over the course of their abbreviated fall season.

UT scored wins over Atlantic Sun Conference champ Lipscomb (10-3) and topped Milligan (11-2), Lee (13-0), Middle Tennessee State (10-5) Chattanooga State (10-1), Walters State (4-0) and Volunteer State (10-0)

"I was very pleased with our efforts as a team, especially considering we played without Jessica Spigner and Tiffany Huff, a pair of experienced All-Region returnees and two of the major RBI producers in the middle of our lineup,'' co-head coach Ralph Weekly said in a UT release. "Both were cleared on Tuesday to resume practice.''

The next time the Lady Vols keep score it will be at the season-opening NTC Division I Invitational in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 12-14, with the first contest against perennial powerhouse Michigan.

Eleven-time national champ UCLA and Big 12 powerhouse Oklahoma will be on deck.

UT finished last season 40-18-1 and ranked in the top 15, but with a bitter taste in its mouth after Jacksonville State eliminated the Lady Vols in NCAA regional action at Lee Stadium.

"This has been an extremely competitive fall season with at least six of our freshmen seriously challenging to play everyday,'' co-head coach Karen Weekly said in the release. "The defense (which finished No. 2 nationally last season) is even better with much needed depth.''