[UT Vols News]

KNOXVILLE — Chalk one up for selective hearing.

Having twice failed to execute a sacrifice bunt against Winthrop in Sunday's NCAA Regional Championship at Tyson Park, Tennessee's Alexia Clay had just one thing in mind: ignoring coach Ralph Weekly.

"I'm just kind of thinking I need to look for a good pitch but protect anything close," said Clay, one of five freshmen who started for the Lady Vols. "I can usually hit bad pitches, so I'm just looking for something I can swing at and hit the ball hard.

"To be honest with you, (Weekly) didn't really say anything, but even if he does, I try not to listen just because it kind of messes with you as a hitter."

Whatever Clay did not hear, worked. The 5-foot-6 rookie from Rochester, Ind., blasted a double to right-center field that moved Shannon Doepking to third, and Anita Manuma followed with an RBI single to left during the Lady Vols' three-run second.

Another three-run outburst in the sixth and single tally in the seventh were more than enough for the indomitable Monica Abbott. The senior left-hander completed her weekend-long shutout in the Lady Vols' 7-0 win against the Lady Eagles ( 50-18 ) with 12 strikeouts and just three hits.

:: The Daily Times ::