Memphis Falls in Rubber Match to UTEP

Sunday, March 18

El Paso, Texas

1 PM

University of Memphis

17-9, 1-2

UTEP

19-10, 3-3

Memphis

UTEP

Mar 18, 2007 | Softball

Box Score

March 18, 2007

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon Kolditz
wkolditz@memphis.edu, (901) 871-5475

Memphis (17-9, 1-2)  000 003 0 - 3 7 1
UTEP (19-10, 3-3)    200 020 0 - 4 7 1
WP - Townsend (6-0). LP - Kubesch (11-4). Save - None.
2B - (UTEP) Lombard (9). (MEM) Dolfo (10)

EL PASO, Texas. - Falling behind early, the University of Memphis softball team's late comeback fell short as the Lady Tigers drop a 4-3 conference contest to UTEP at Helen of Troy Field on Sunday. The Lady Tigers record falls to 17-9 and 1-2 in Conference USA.

After throwing a complete game victory against Memphis in game No. 2 on Saturday, Stacie Townsend held the Lady Tigers scoreless through the first five innings. UTEP took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and increased it to 4-0 on two unearned runs in the fifth.

Memphis had its opportunities to score, but stranded six runners in the first five innings. The Lady Tigers left the bases loaded in the fourth inning after filling them up with one out.

The Lady Tigers matched the Miners in hits with seven. Senior first baseman Kara Ross and sophomore catcher Kimmi Hayden both led the team with 2-for-3 performances and a run scored. Hayden also was responsible for a hit that scored two of the Memphis runs in the sixth.

Senior Jenna Kubesch (11-4) suffered the loss after allowing two earned runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts. The loss is her first in the last eight decisions.

Down 4-0, Memphis scored three runs in the sixth to make it a one run game. Senior third baseman Bridgette McNulty led the inning off with her 27th walk of the season and moved to third on Ross' second single of the game. Hayden then followed with a line drive single to center that the fielder misplayed, allowing the ball to go all the way to the fence to score both runners. Former UTEP Miner Lindsey Pridgen collected the third-straight Lady Tiger hit to score Hayden. Pridgen was stranded at second with one out after being moved into scoring position on a sac bunt from sophomore second baseman Tori Gross.

The Miners took a 2-0 lead in the first inning with three hits. Sarah Hernandez began the inning for UTEP with a single off the glove of Kubesch. Kelly Lombard then hit a one out double down the left field line to put runners at second and third. Townsend, hitting in the cleanup spot of the order, delivered an RBI single to score Hernandez. A wild pitch brought Lombard home for the second run.

Memphis loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth but failed to score any runs. Junior Lindsay Kelso led off the inning with a single to short extending her hitting streak to 14 straight games. A walk to McNulty and an infield single by Hayden gave Memphis its best scoring opportunity through the first four innings.

The Lady Tigers again threatened to score in the fifth inning. Sophomore shortstop Leila Dolfo hit a one-out double to the right-center wall, her 10th double of the season.

UTEP took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth after scoring two unearned runs. Jennifer Stalter and Andi Zolton led off the inning with back-to-back singles to put runners at first and second. A passed ball moved the runners up a base, and then a two-out throwing error to first brought both runners home.

The Lady Tigers will open its new stadium on Saturday as the team hosts Houston in a three-game series. First pitch of the conference match-up is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday in a doubleheader followed by a 1 p.m. game on Sunday. The new Memphis softball complex is located at the Park Avenue Campus next to Nat Buring Stadium.

Notes
 This is the fifth game between UTEP and Memphis. Memphis leads the series 3-2.
 Bridgette McNulty walked for the 26th time this season in the game with a fourth inning free base. She later added her 27th bases on balls to lead off the sixth.
 Leila Dolfo hit her team leading 10th double of the season in the fifth inning to right center.
 Kimmi Hayden hit in her fourth RBI of the season in the sixth inning and Lindsey Pridgen had her eighth.