Tigers Drop Games to Delaware and Ole Miss

Saturday, February 21

Petal, Miss.

4 PM

University of Memphis

3-7

Ole Miss

8-4

Memphis

Ole Miss

Feb 21, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 21, 2015

Box Score vs. Ole Miss

Box Score vs. Delaware (PDF} 

Box Score v. Ole Miss (PDF) 

PETAL, Miss.  - The University of Memphis softball team dropped games to Delaware and Mississippi as the teams met at the Petal Panthers High School softball stadium on Saturday.

The Tigers (3-7) added the Blue Hens and Rebels to the schedule after winter weather forced Memphis to cancel the Blues City Classic, which was originally scheduled for Feb. 20-22.

Memphis opened the day with a 6-4 loss to Delaware in the morning's game. They took a break as the Blue Hens and Rebels played and then returned to take on Ole Miss in the 4 p.m. game. The Tigers fell 8-2 in the final matchup.

The Tigers acted as the visitors in the game, but it was Delaware who struck first, grabbing three runs in its opening frame. The Blue Hens got started with a leadoff single, and the runner came around to score on a sacrifice fly. With a runner on second, Mariah Kondravy hit a two-run home run.

Memphis responded with a run of its own. Sami Jo Schulz drove in Calli Irvin with a two-out base hit. Irvin had gotten on with a walk and then she stole second. She then advanced to third on a ground out before scoring.

Three innings later, the Tigers struck again. Kyler Trosclair singled to the infield, and then bypassed second and ended up at third when the catcher threw the ball into right field. She'd come around to score on a wild pitch, bringing the Tigers within one at 3-2.

However, Delaware came back with another three-run inning, putting them back in control at 6-2.

Memphis added two runs in the seventh. Brittany Vaughn saw her first action of the season as a pinch hitter, and was promptly hit by the first pitch she saw. This loaded the bases, which resulted in a run when Brooke Lee took a walk. Irvin flied out to left, driving in the second run on a sacrifice. A fly out to center ended the threat and game.

Memphis outhit the Blue Hens 9-7 in the game, and had only one error to Delaware's two. Jordan Richwood threw five complete innings in the first game. She struck out five batters and walked only one.

Molly Smith pitched the last inning in the earlier game for the Tigers, and she took the circle for game two against the Rebels. She threw four innings and struck out two batters, giving up only six hits. She also walked seven in her 105 pitches.

The Tigers didn't have problems getting runners on base in the second game. They had eight hits and forced five walks. However, they could not find ways to bring those runners in. The UofM loaded the bases in the first inning with two hits and a walk, but a strikeout ended the early opportunity.

Mississippi found itself in the same position in the bottom of the first, as they also loaded the bases with two outs. However, a couple of wild pitches brought in two runs. They threatened for more, but a great defensive play from Lee ended the threat. On a ground ball between first and second, she ranged to her left and dove to make the stop, throwing from her knees to beat the runner.

The Rebels added to their lead in the third inning with a two-run home run after a leadoff walk. Ole Miss then loaded the bases with nobody out, but Smith settled in and got pop ups to Schulz at short, Cierra Mangum at third, and then Addison Maxwell at catcher to end the inning.

Irvin got on again for the Tigers in the top of the fourth with a one-out single. She then advanced to second and third on wild pitches, but was stranded there.

Ole Miss put another three runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by back-to-back home runs.

Memphis broke through in the sixth, starting with a leadoff walk to Lee. She stole second and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Maxwell singled with an infield hit, but Lee was unable to score. However, Schulz brought her with a ground ball to the shortstop, beating the throw for a base hit of her own. Trosclair kept the theme going with another infield hit that would score Maxwell to make it 7-2. A walk to Harrell loaded the bases and chased starting pitcher Emily Gaitan from the game, but a strikeout meant the Tigers left the bases loaded again.

Ole Miss added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, and then the Tigers went down in order in the seventh.

Memphis returns to action next week as the Tigers travel to Lake Charles, La. to take part in the Cowgirl Classic, hosted by McNeese State. They'll open with a Friday matchup against Texas Tech at 3 p.m. 