March 2, 2003
LADY PALADIN SOFTBALL TOPS FLORIDA A&M, FALLS TO TENNESSEE
MIAMI, Florida -- Tennessee's Stacey Jennings recorded three hits, three RBI, belted a two-run home run and pitched a complete-game shutout to lead the Lady Vols to a 5-0 victory over Furman in softball action at the Coca-Cola Golden Panther Invitational in Miami, Fla., Sunday afternoon.
The loss eliminated Furman from the tournament after it had fought its way into the semifinal matchup with an 8-6 win over Florida A&M in Sunday's opening contest.
After three and a half scoreless innings, Tennessee exploded for four fourth inning runs against Lady Paladin starter Meagen Johnson (1-4). Tennessee's Lindsay Durant led off the inning with a walk and came around to score the game's first run when catcher Karen Myers overthrew first base on Amber Rhinehart's attempted sacrifice bunt. Jennings then followed with a two-run homer to left center field making the score 3-0. The Lady Vols chased Johnson from the game when pinch hitter Jessica Wilson drew a bases loaded walk giving Tennessee a 4-0 lead.
The Lady Vols capped the day's scoring on an RBI single from Jennings that plated Durant in the bottom of the fifth.
Jennings, the reigning National Player of the Week, improved to 7-4 on the season allowing two hits and striking out three.
Johnson, saddled with her fourth loss of the season, surrendered three earned runs on five hits through 3.1 innings.
Johnson and Kristen White registered Furman's only hits in the loss.
In the morning opener, Furman overcame an early 1-0 deficit with four runs in the bottom of the fourth and four more in the bottom of the sixth to defeat Florida A&M 8-6.
Barr and Kelli Leachman led the Lady Paladins at the plate. Barr was 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Leachman was 1-for-2 with a two run single in the fourth.
Rachel Henley (2-3) picked up her second win of the season by pitching 6.2 innings. Johnson recorded her first save of the year striking out FAMU's Haroln Williams with the bases loaded to end the game.
Barr and Johnson were both named to the Golden Panther Invitational all-tournament team. Barr batted .550 (11-20) for the tournament and drove in six runs. Johnson, a sophomore from Georgetown, S.C., pounded out three doubles, scored three runs and posted a .400 batting average in six games.
The Lady Paladins, 4-7 on the season return to action Friday at the Charleston Southern tournament in Summerville, S.C.