Posted at 7:22 p.m., Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tennessee's Abbott, UW's Lawrie throw no-hitters
Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY — Monica Abbott threw her 23rd career no-hitter and struck out 16 to break the single-season record and help Tennessee open the Women's College World Series with a 2-0 victory over Texas A&M today.The 6-foot-3 Abbott (47-3) broke the strikeout record of 663 set by Southern Mississippi's Courtney Blades in 2000. Abbott finished the game with 665. She defeated Hawaii twice in last week's Super Regional, putting the Volunteers into the World Series.
Earlier, Washington's Danielle Lawrie threw the first no-hitter in four years in the World Series, leading the Huskies to a 3-1 victory over DePaul. Also, Northwestern beat Arizona State 2-0, and defending champion Arizona beat Baylor 2-1 in nine innings.
Tomorrow in the double-elimination tournament, Tennessee will face Arizona, and Washington will play Northwestern.
India Chiles and Shannon Doepking had RBI singles for Tennessee (60-6) in the seventh inning off Amanda Scarborough (26-9).
Texas A&M (46-13) loaded the bases with one out in the first, but Abbott got the next two batters on a fielder's choice and strikeout to end the inning. Texas A&M had only one other baserunner, in the fifth when Scarborough led off with a walk.
Abbott, honored Tuesday night as the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year, holds NCAA career records for wins (186 against only 32 losses), strikeouts (2,381), shutouts (109) and appearances (248).
