Rowan Delivers Two-Run Double to Beat San Diego

Friday, March 2

San Diego, Calif.

6 PM

University of Memphis

11-6

San Diego

7-6

U. Memphis

Univ. of San Diego

San Diego native Tori Gross scored the game-winning run in a 4-2 Memphis victory over San Diego.

Mar 02, 2007 | Softball

Box Score

March 2, 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 (11-6)  001 102 0 -- 4 7 2
San Diego (7-5)	000 200 0 -- 2 5 2
WP - Kubesch (7-3). LP - Nelson (2-3). Save - None.
2B - (MEM) Dolfo (8), Rowan (2)

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Freshman pinch hitter Leigh Rowan delivered a two-out two-run double in the top of the sixth to help the University of Memphis softball team beat the University of San Diego 4-2 on Friday night.

"Leigh is amazing," said Memphis head coach Windy Thees. "She is probably the best pinch hitter I've ever seen in college softball. That's how good this kid is as a freshman. She came in there and got down with two strikes early, but battled back to a full count and roped it to score two big runs for us. I can't speak enough about her."

The Lady Tigers took a two-run lead into the bottom of the fourth, but three-straight hits and a Memphis error with two outs allowed the Toreros to tie the game. Rowan broke the tie with her game-winning pinch hit to right center.

Memphis put together seven hits in the game led by San Diego area native Leila Dolfo who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. The Lady Tigers have now won a season high four-straight games as the team improves to 11-6. San Diego falls to 7-5 in the opening game of the three-day USD Invitational at the USD Softball complex.

"You can't take anything away from San Diego," Thees said. "They are a solid team and were tough. They battled all the way through, but it's good to start the tournament with a win."

Senior pitcher Jenna Kubesch (7-3) picked up her seventh win of the season in a complete game performance. Kubesch struck out five and allowed six singles in the game.

The Lady Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. With one out, sophomore left fielder Leandra Hines reached second on a two-base throwing error. Dolfo then knocked Hines in with her team leading eighth double of the season and her seventh RBI. Memphis had the bases loaded with one out, but scored just the one run.

Memphis added a second run in the top of the fourth. Senior center fielder Lindsey Pridgen led off the inning with a single up the middle and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore second baseman and San Diego native Tori Gross. Sophomore right fielder Brittany Gooch then singled on a bunt to second base putting runners at the corners. With Hines at bat, Pridgen scored on a double steal.

San Diego tied the score with two unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs, the Toreros hit back-to-back-to-back singles. A dropped popup in the infield allowed two Torerors to score and tie the game.

"We battled back (after the error)," Thees said. "The key to those kinds of games is how you answer, and Jenna answered amazingly. She pitched stronger in the last two innings than she did the entire game. (Lindsay) Kelso caught a great game. We just answered, and that is what we have to do. If we answer, we're going to win a lot of games."

Memphis will continue its play in the USD Invitational with two games on Saturday. The Lady Tigers will play Cal State Northridge at 3:30 p.m. (PST) and Loyola Marymount at 6 p.m. Live stats are available for both games at GoTigersGo.com.

Notes
 Today is the first meeting between Memphis and San Diego.
 With three players on the team from the San Diego area, the Lady Tigers had several fans in the crowd. Sophomores Leila Dolfo, Tori Gross and Kimmi Hayden are all local products who started in the game.
 Sophomore Leila Dolfo hit her team leading eighth double of the year in the second inning. The double scored the Lady Tigers' first run of the game.
 Senior pitcher Jenna Kubesch didn't allow a hit out of the infield until the fourth inning with two outs.
 Sophomore Brittany Gooch stole her team leading fifth base in a double steal effort that allowed senior Lindsey Pridgen to score.
 Senior third baseman Bridgette McNulty walked for the 17th time this season. The conference leader in walks is averaging one per game through 17 games after having 24 walks in 2006.
 Freshman Leigh Rowan hit a pinch hit two-run double in the top of the sixth to break a two-all tie. The double is her second of the season and scored her fourth and fifth RBI.
 The Lady Tigers have now won a season high four-straight games.