March 21, 2007
KNOXVILLE, TENN. – Junior catcher Shannon Doepking hit a walk off home run to carry the top-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols (29-2, 7-2 SEC) past the South Carolina Gamecocks (24-8, 3-4 SEC) 2-0 in game one of a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon. Melissa Hendon (10-5, 2-4 SEC) took the loss as she gave up five hits to the Lady Vols. All-American and national pitcher of the year candidate Monica Abbott (23-1, 7-1 SEC) struck out 15 to record the victory for Tennessee.
The loss marks the fifth straight for the Gamecocks and the fourth straight to an SEC opponent. Danielle Pieroni was the only player to record a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-3 for Tennessee. The Lady Vols scattered its two other hits between Lindsay Schutzler and Alexia Clay.
Josker broke up the perfect game for Abbott in the fifth inning when she led off with a single to left field. But the Gamecocks’ scoring chances were cut short when Lindsay Walker hit into a double play and Hendon struck out to retire the side.
Lisa Longo drew a walk in the sixth with one out to give the Gamecocks their second base runner of the game, however the South Carolina bats would continue to be silent as Abbott struck out the next two batters, stranding Longo at first and ending the inning.
In the seventh, Adele Voigt reached safely with a bunt single to record the second hit of the game for South Carolina, but was thrown out going to second on a fielder’s choice grounder by McKenna Hughes. Again, the Gamecocks were shut down by Abbott as she recorded strikeouts No. 14 and 15 to end the inning unharmed.
Tennessee struck in the bottom half of the inning as Pieroni recorded the Lady Vols first extra base hit when she doubled with one out. That would be all that the Lady Vols would need as Doepking would follow with a home run on the second pitch to drive in Pieroni and clinch the 2-0 win. The home run was Doepking’s second of the season and the 13th given up by Hendon.
Tennessee 2, South Carolina 0 (Mar 21, 2007 at Knoxville, Tenn.) (Game 1)
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South Carolina…… 000 000 0 – 0 2 0 (24-8, 3-4)
Tennessee……….. 000 000 2 – 2 5 0 (29-2, 7-2)
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Pitchers: South Carolina – Melissa Hendon. Tennessee – Monica Abbott.
Win-Monica Abbott(23-1) Loss-Melissa Hendon(10-5) T-1:31
HR UT – Shannon Doepking.
