6th ranked Lady Vols crush Winthrop, 8-0

Posted: Tue 9:39 PM, Mar 12, 2013

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --Madison Shipman blasted a pair of home runs and drove in five runs, Lauren Gibson hit a two-run shot and Ivy Renfroe tossed four shutout frames to lead No. 6/7 Tennessee to an 8-0, five-inning win over Winthrop on Tuesday at Lee Stadium.

The Lady Vols (22-4) controlled the game from the start thanks to back-to-back homers by Gibson and Shipman in the first inning. Renfroe, the freshly-named Louisville Slugger NFCA National Player of the Week and USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Week, had great command in the circle, keeping the Hawks (11-12) in check.

Shipman saw three pitches in the game and went produced a solo home run, a two-run home run and a two-run double to finish a perfect 3-for-3 with a career-high-tying five RBIs. Gibson went 2-for-3 with a two run homer and two runs scored. Raven Chavanne reached base three times with a single, two walks and three runs scored. Chavanne also stole two bases. Cheyanne Tarango went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

Renfroe (9-1) struck out four over four shutout frames. Tarango pitched a scoreless fifth and recorded two strikeouts.

Sutton Watson (8-7) took the loss for Winthrop after giving up the two-run homer to Gibson and the solo blast to Shipman in the next at-bat. Watson did not record an out. Sara Allen allowed five runs over 3.1 innings of relief. Dallas King tossed a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in the loss.

Chavanne opened the bottom of the first with a leadoff single to the pitcher and stole second base. Gibson brought her in and gave UT a 2-0 lead when she drilled a 2-1 pitch from Watson over the wall in left field. The team wasn't even finished congratulating Gibson by the time Shipman took a big swing at the first pitch she saw to send it over the wall and just right of the foul pole for a solo jack.

In the bottom of the second, Tennessee added two more runs. Chavanne drew an seven-pitch walk with one out and stole second base. Two batters later, Shipman pounded another first pitch to left for a two-run homer, her fifth on the year.

Tennessee plated three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the game out of reach. With one out, Shipman knocked a two-RBI double to right center to plate Chavanne and Gibson. Tarango followed with an RBI single up the middle to push the Lady Vols' lead to 8-0.

UT is back in action this weekend when it heads to Gainesville, Fla., to play No. 3/4 Florida from March 15-17. All three games will be televised. Friday's game is on Sun Sports/Fox Sports Florida. Saturday's game is on ESPNU. Sunday's game is on Fox Sports Net.

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.