The UC Santa Barbara softball team opened the 2012 campaign on Thursday afternoon against No. 9/14 Tennessee (1-0) at the Kajikawa Classic, which is being hosted by Arizona State. The Gauchos were unable to overcome the national powerhouse, falling 7-0 to the Lady Vols.
Sophomore Andriana Collins (0-1) suffered the loss in the circle after giving up five runs, three of which were earned, on seven hits in 4.1 innings worth of work. She struck out three and walked two batters. Freshman Shelby Wisdom tossed 1.2 innings of relief during her first appearance for the Gauchos. The hurler allowed two hits and two walks.
Collins opened the game by striking out the first three batters she faced at the bottom of the first, but Tennessee pitcher Ellen Renfroe quickly returned the favor and struck out the next three Gaucho batters.
Madison Shipman led off for the Lady Vols at the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run over the center field fence. An error following a sacrifice bunt attempt two plays later allowed Shelby Burchell to score from first base and an RBI single by Ashley Andrews pushed the Tennessee lead to 3-0.
At the top of third with two outs, freshman DeJanee Moore swung at the first pitch and sent a single to left field for the first and only Gaucho hit of the game. Renfroe struck out the next batter, leaving UCSB’s lone base runner of the game stranded at first.
Lauren Gibson added the Lady Vols’ lead at the bottom of the third with a home run hit down the left field line.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Shipman was able to send another Tennessee runner home with a single through the left side.
Trailing 5-0, UCSB made its pitching change. Gibson scored on a wild pitch and Burchell drove home Shipman before Wisdom shutdown the Lady Vol onslaught.
Renfroe was impressive for Tennessee, pitching a complete game one-hitter with 11 strikeouts.
UCSB will continue action at the Kajikawa Classic on Friday as they face Bradley at 7:30 a.m. and Oregon at 10 a.m.
