Lady Tigers Hand Houston First C-USA Loss of Season

Saturday, March 24

Memphis, Tenn.

3 PM

University of Memphis

18-10, 2-3

Houston

24-11, 7-1

Houston

Memphis

Lady Tigers Hand Houston First C-USA Loss of Season

Mar 24, 2007 | Softball

Box Score

March 24, 2007

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

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A walk-off single from Kara Ross to left centerfield drove in Leila Dolfo as the University of Memphis (18-10, 2-3 C-USA) handed Houston (24-11, 7-1 C-USA) its first league loss of the season, 2-1, in the second game of a doubleheader, Saturday. The two teams split the doubleheader, setting up Sunday's 1 p.m. game as the rubber match in the series.

Memphis got on the board first as Ross singled to centerfield to open the second inning. Bridget McNulty followed in the next at-bat with a single of her own and when Tori Gross singled to right field, Sara Schneider, pinch running for Ross, crossed the plate and gave the Lady Tigers a 1-0 lead. Houston got out of the inning when catcher Elaina Nordstrom managed to get Brittany Gooch in a close play at first base for the final out of the inning with the Lady Tigers up by just one.

Houston answered back in the fifth inning, knocking out back-to-back singles to put runners at first and second. A Katie Bush single sent Amanda Grote toward home plate, where Memphis centerfielder Lindsey Pridgen gunned her down. In the next at-bat, catch Erin Nordstrom singled to centerfield, scoring Jessica Valis. But Bush turned the corner and tried for home, where Pridgen again gunned the runner down at the plate to allow Memphis to escape with the game tied at one apiece.

In the bottom half of the same inning, Leandra Hines bunted a 2-1 count down the line and beat the throw. Two sacrifice hits moved Hines over to third base, but the Cougar infield kept Hines on third to close out the threat and remain tied at the end of five.

Houston threatened again at the top of the seventh, as Amanda Grote singled and advanced all the way to third on a fielding error. Jessica Valis reached on a fielders' choice, but Grote got caught in a run down, eliminating the scoring threat from third. But Katie Bush drew a walk and when Memphis intentionally walked Nordstrom, the Lady Tigers were facing a bases-loaded situation with two outs. But Haley Valis was unable to capitalize, as her drive down the left field line drifted foul and was caught by Leandra Hines to close out the threat.

Memphis went in to the bottom of the seventh and the Lady Tigers' second batter, Leila Dolfo, doubled. That sent the Cougar coaching staff to the mound, pulling out pitcher Barbie Love and bringing back Cougar ace Angel Shamblin in relief. Shamblin walked Lindsay Kelso after a long at-bat, but then Ross stepped to the plate and took a 1-0 count to left centerfield, driving in Dolfo for the win.

Nicki Johnson picked up her seventh win of the season, giving up eight hits and one earned run, while striking out five and walking three. Love took the loss, dropping to 4-3 on the season, going 6.1 innings and giving up two earned runs while striking out seven and walking two.

The two teams will close out the series at 1 p.m., Sunday, at the U of M Softball Complex.