Tigers Down Houston Behind Hummel's Shut-Out

Sunday, March 20

Memphis, Tenn.

12 PM

University of Memphis

18-7, 3-3

Houston

18-12, 2-4

Houston

Memphis

Mar 20, 2011 | Softball

Box Score

March 20, 2011

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis softball team roared back from a disappointing Saturday doubleheader to take game three of the home conference-opening series against Houston, 2-0, behind sophomore Carly Hummel’s 10th career shutout.

The Tigers improve to 18-7 on the season, and even their record in conference play at 3-3. Houston falls to 18-12 and 2-4 in Conference USA.

Hummel and Houston’s Amanda Crabtree matched zeroes through the first four and a half innings. Only one batter for either squad garnered a hit in the first four innings, with Memphis’ Maddie McKinley hitting a single up the middle that hit Crabtree with two outs in the Memphis half of the first. Junior Jessica Phillips grounded out after that and neither squad would threaten again until the fifth.

The Tigers finally would break through in the fifth inning. An Alyssa Palmieri lead-off walk and subsequent Ashleigh King sac bunt put Memphis in scoring position for the first time Sunday afternoon.

Kamri Chester followed King’s sac bunt with a grounder to third that got under Houston’s Holly Anderson’s glove, allowing Chester to get on and moving Palmieri to third.

The next batter, Nikki Moreno, struck out swinging, but the drop ball in the dirt got away from Houston’s Haley Outon, allowing Palmieri to score. Chester moved to third after Outon’s throw to the plate in an attempt to get Palmieri went wild. Senior Heather Mott’s infield single scored Chester, giving Mott nine runs batted in this season and giving Memphis a two-run lead for the first time since Wednesday against Mississippi Valley State.

Though Memphis only managed two hits, it would be all the Tigers would need against a punchless Houston offense. The Cougars were held without a hit until Brooke Lathan lined a shot off Hummel’s leg with one out in the seventh.

Though the Cougars were threatening at that point, the threat was snuffed with the next batter. Angela Spittler grounded to Palmieri, who tagged Lathan and threw to first to end the game.

Hummel (10-3) was magnificent, going the distance for the 10th time this season. She struck out six and only allowed three batters (two walks, one hit) to reach base for her 10th victory of the season, and 25th of her career. It is her fifth one-hitter of her career and seventh career complete game allowing one hit or less

Memphis will exit the friendly confines of the Tiger Softball Complex next weekend travelling west for a three-game set against UTEP in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday and Sunday. Gametracker, Live Chat and All-Access Video will be available.