ASSOCIATED PRESS
Danielle Rodriguez (12) and Caitlin Lowe celebrated Arizona's lone run.
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Arizona edges past Tennessee
Arizona stays alive in softball world series
Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY » Pinch runner Danielle Rodriguez beat the throw home on Adrienne Acton's groundout in the 10th inning as Arizona beat Tennessee 1-0 yesterday, extending the Women's College World Series to a decisive third game.
Sam Banister started Arizona's rally with a single to left field and moved to second on a sacrifice before an error by Tennessee second baseman Kenora Posey allowed Callista Balko to reach base and Rodriguez, who pinch-ran for Banister, to get to third.
Acton then slapped a grounder to shortstop Liane Horiuchi, and the Kamehameha graduate fired home. Acton slid and dropped her left hand toward the tip of the plate. Lady Vols catcher Shannon Doepking was unable to tag Rodriguez before Rodriguez swept her hand down to break Monica Abbott's 43-inning scoreless streak in the postseason.
Game 3 of the championship series is today at 2 p.m.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arizona's Danielle Rodriguez scored past Tennessee catcher Shannon Doepking to even the Women's College World Series.
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OKLAHOMA CITY » Caitlin Lowe had the best view of any player on the field, and even she wasn't sure if Arizona had finally made its breakthrough against Tennessee ace Monica Abbott.
Pinch runner Danielle Rodriguez came charging home on Adrienne Acton's grounder in the 10th inning, and catcher Shannon Doepking spun in an attempt to tag her out. Rodriguez scraped her left hand toward the tip of home plate.
NCAA Division I World Series
At Oklahoma City
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Best-of-three series
All times Hawaii times
Monday, June 4: Tennessee 3, Arizona 0
Yesterday: Arizona 1, Tennessee 0, 10 innings, series tied 1-1
Today: Tennessee (63-7) vs. Arizona (49-14-1), 2 p.m.
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"I still kind of had to look at the umpire because I wasn't really sure what he was going to call," said Lowe, who was in the on-deck circle when Acton hit the ground ball.
"I knew she definitely had a chance, and I saw her hand sneak in," Lowe added.
Umpire Jerry Bark ruled that Rodriguez was in beneath Doepking's tag to score the winning run in Arizona's 1-0 win over Tennessee last night that extended the Women's College World Series finals to a decisive third game.
Sam Banister started Arizona's rally with single to left field and moved to second on a sacrifice before an error by Tennessee second baseman Kenora Posey allowed Callista Balko to reach base and Rodriguez, who pinch-ran for Banister, to get to third.
Acton then slapped a grounder to shortstop Liane Horiuchi, and she fired home. Rodriguez swerved to the right around Doepking before extending her left hand toward the plate.
"Luckily I have long fingers," said Rodriguez, holding up her left hand.
Rodriguez's run -- on her 21st birthday -- ended a 43-inning scoreless streak for Abbott and extended the series to another game tonight.
Doepking came away with a different impression of the play.
"When she came, I thought I had her. The umpire saw something different," Doepking said. "No matter what, that's not what lost the game. We couldn't bring a run across when we had runners in scoring position."