SEC Tournament Game 5 Recap: Tennessee 7, Florida 5
5/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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TUSCALOOSA, ALA - Florida became the first team out here at the Southeastern Conference Softball Championships held at the Alabama Softball Complex this week when they lost to No. 10 Tennessee in the tourney's first elimination game, 7-5.
Tennessee, upset Thursday by Mississippi State in the tourney's first game, came from behind today to advance to Saturday, scoring five runs in top of the seventh inning. Florida led 4-2 after the fifth inning, but managed only one more run.
"Well, the name of the game is fast pitch," Tennessee co-head coach Karen Weekly said. "We had great pitching all year. We just have not had good pitching the last two games. Our offense came through today. Give a lot of credit to Florida. They didn't deserve to lose."
The Lady Vols go to 52-13 while Florida is now 40-18. Tennessee goes to 1-9 all-time in the Alabama Softball Complex. For the Gators it was their first loss of the season when leading in the sixth inning, putting them at 37-1 in that situation.
Stacey Jennings earned the win, moving to 10-6, while Monica Abbott picked up the save, her fourth of the season. Stacey Stevens was charged with the loss, falling to 14-9.
The Gators head home while Tennessee will face the loser of the Alabama-LSU game which gets underway later today at 7:30 p.m.
Tennessee Notes
--Stacey Jennings records her first SEC win since an April 17 win against the Florida Gators
--The Lady Volunteers picked up their first ever win at the UA Softball Complex. They now have a 1-9 record at the stadium.
--Tennessee has defeated the Gators four straight times this season
--The Lady Vols got revenge on the Gators after Florida defeated Tennessee 2-1 in an elimination game in the 1997 SEC Tournament.
Florida Notes
--Florida recorded its first loss this season when leading after the first inning.
--The Gators were 37-0 when leading in the sixth inning
TENNESSEE QUOTES:
Head Coach Karen Weekly:
"Well, the name of the game is fast pitch. We had great pitching all year. We just have not had good pitching the last two games. Our offense came through today."
"Give a lot of credit to Florida. They didn't deserve to lose."
Center Fielder Sarah Fekete:
"I think that we are a good team. We come out as the underdog in most of our game and we just come out and play. We play best when we are behind. We just find a way to win."
"I never had the doubt in my mind that we were not going to win."
FLORIDA QUOTES:
Head Coach Karen Johns:
"That was a little disappointing. We thought we were playing well, but they had some good reps. You have to give them credit for the comeback."
"We feel like we should have won the game. We had one bad inning and unfortunately it turned into a big inning. That really hurt us."
P Amanda Moore:
On Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott:
"She's a freshman and she's got a lot of innings on her. My hats off to her; I'm very impressed with her. As good as she is, it's hard to (continually) come back and shut everybody out. We came out and hit the ball really hard against Abbott, and I'm proud of that."
On how she wants this year's team to be remembered:
"(I don't want anyone) to take us lightly. We're there, we're not going to back down. People take us lightly because we're a young program, but we're right there waiting on you to make a mistake and we'll get you."
C Kristen Butler:
On her fifth inning triple:
"I've kind of learned my lesson during the season not to watch the ball. Once I saw the umpire as I was rounding first I knew I was going to make it to third."
