Memphis' Season Ends in Pitching Duel with Marshall

Friday, May 11

Orlando, Fla.

11:30 AM

University of Memphis

36-25

Marshall

32-25

Marshall

Memphis

Memphis' Season Ends in Pitching Duel with Marshall

May 11, 2007 | Softball

Box Score

May 11, 2007

Box Score

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

Marshall (32-25)  001 000 0 - 1 6 1
Memphis (36-25)   000 000 0 - 0 2 0
Win: Harter (14-15). Loss: Johnson (12-14). Save: None
3B: (MAR) Sofie (2).
2B: (MAR) Bertoldo (2). (MEM) Rowan (6).

ORLANDO, Fla. - A remarkable season for a program in only its second year came to an end on Friday as the University of Memphis softball team fell to Marshall, 1-0, in an elimination game at the Conference USA Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

Behind its senior pitchers Nicki Johnson and Jenna Kubesch, the Tigers (36-25) put together a string of eight consecutive wins and made the final slot in the championship by winnings its last six league games to end the regular season. The Tigers then surprised last year's tournament champion Tulsa in the first round victory.

The strong pitching continued in the conference tournament, but the Memphis bats were silent. As a result, the Tigers dropped its second-straight 1-0 game despite a strong outing from Johnson (12-14). The Tucson, Ariz., native allowed one run on five hits and had three strikeouts with no walks in the loss.

Combined, Memphis pitchers allowed three runs in 23 innings (0.91 ERA) and gave up 10 hits, while striking out 21 batters. Six of those hits came in the final game against Marshall.

Marcena Bertoldo gave Marshall the only run it would need in the third inning after leading off with a double to right center. It was the second inning in a row that the Thundering Herd had the leadoff runner in scoring position. Marshall took advantage of the second opportunity, moving Bertoldo to third on a sac and then advancing her home on a ground ball to second by Rachel Folden.

Marshall attempted to add to its one run lead in the sixth inning after Rachael Sofie hit a one-out triple to right field. Kubesch then came into the game in relief, making her third appearance in two days. After the first attempt at a suicide squeeze was fouled back, Kubesch struck out Gina Guzzo for the second out and got Caitlyn Jackson to fly out to center.

Memphis stranded three base runners in the game with all three left in scoring position. The Tigers biggest scoring threats came in the fifth and sixth inning. Leigh Rowan was stranded at second after hitting a one-out double off the left field fence in the fifth inning. In the sixth, Leila Dolfo was stranded at third after a one-out infield single and a throwing error had put her in scoring position.

For the six Memphis seniors (Nicki Johnson, Jenna Kubesch, Christi Morrison, Bridgette McNulty, Lindsey Pridgen and Kara Ross), the game marked their final collegiate outing. All six made appearances against Marshall. The Tigers will now look forward to next year after having two seasons under its belt and a win in the C-USA Championship.