March 5, 2012

By Brian Davis, Assistant Media Relations Director

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - After helping the #8 Tennessee Lady Vol softball team (14-3) to a perfect 4-0 record at this past weekend's Tennessee Classic at the Lee Softball Stadium, junior pitcher Ivy Renfroe has been chosen as the Southeastern Conference's Pitcher of the Week for March 5, according to a release from the league office.

In addition to Renfroe's league accolade, the Jackson, Tenn., native also joined teammates senior Shelby Burchell (.667 average, 6-for-9, four doubles, four RBIs during the event) and junior Melissa Brown (.308 average, two doubles, HR, five RBIs) as part of the 12-member Tennessee Classic All-Tournament Team.

The 6-0 right hander was a perfect 2-0 in the circle during UT's home-hosted event, posting a 0.00 ERA, two complete-game shutouts and 17 strikeouts over 13.1 innings of work while limiting the opposition to two total hits and a .047 batting average. Included in her weekend efforts was her fourth career no-hitter in the 8-0 (5 inn.) triumph over Murray State, during which she faced just one batter over the minimum, required an efficient 75 total pitches and just missed a perfect game by a walk with seven K's. Renfroe also stretched her scoreless innings-pitched streak to 17.1 frames dating back to her last allowed score on Feb. 24 (five appearances ago). She allowed just one base-runner (via a walk) over a stretch of 28 batters stretching from the fourth inning against ETSU, through the entire Murray State contest and three batters of relief against Middle Tennessee.

Renfroe marks the third Lady Vol softball player to reap one of the SEC weekly accolades through the opening four weeks of the 2012 campaign. Sophomore Ellen Renfroe was tabbed as the SEC Pitcher of the Week back on Feb. 13, while junior third baseman Raven Chavanne was selected as the SEC Player of the Week on Feb. 27.

The #8 Tennessee softball squad now prepares to christen its league slate by hosting #3 Florida for a three-game series over March 9-11 at the Lee Softball Stadium. The series begins on Friday night at 6 p.m. ET, before wrapping up on Sat., at 2 p.m. ET and Sun., at Noon ET. For the most up to date info on Lady Vol softball visit UTLadyVols.com or Twitter via (@LadyVol_Sftball).