Tigers Win Big in Shutout of Huskies

Saturday, April 11

Storrs, Conn.

6 PM

University of Memphis

14-20, 0

Uconn

12-23, 0

Memphis

UConn

Apr 11, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

April 11, 2015

Box Score

Box Score (PDF) 

MANSFIELD, Conn. -- Katie Brignac's home run highlighted a potent Memphis offense as the Tigers cruised to a 12-0 shutout of UConn in five innings on the campus of Eastern Connecticut State University Saturday evening.

The 12 runs matched a season-high for the Tigers as they moved to 14-20 (2-5 American Athletic Conference) with the win. The Huskies fell to 12-23 (1-5 AAC) and were shutout for the fifth time this season.

Memphis scored early and often, jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and only extending it from there. Kyler Trosclair led the game off with an infield single the shortstop. After a ground out and then a bunt single, Anna Thomas drove her in with a sacrifice fly. Brignac singled through the left side, and then Sami Jo Schulz drove Lindsay Crowdus in with another single to make it 2-0.

Back-to-back singles from Brittany Vaughn and Haleigh Ross scored a third run, and after an error and a wild pitch, the Tigers lead 5-0 after one.

Memphis picked up in the second where it left off as Hannah Harrell reached on an error from the third baseman. After Crowdus singled, the pair stole second and third. Thomas struck out, but reached first on a wild pitch, scoring Harrell. Then an illegal pitch made it 7-0 as Crowdus came in. Ross picked up her second RBI later in the inning to make it 8-0.

The Tiger attack continued in the third inning as Harrell was hit by a pitch and Thomas had a two-out single, bringing up Brignac. She drove a 0-1 pitch over the wall in left field for a three-run home run. It was the second of the season for Brignac and put the Tigers up 11-0.

Vaughn doubled down the left field line to get the top of the fourth started. She came around to score on the second sacrifice fly of the evening, this time from Trosclair to give the Tigers their 12-0 lead. The fifth inning was the only one in which Memphis did not push a run across.

In the circle, Jordan Richwood was nearly untouchable as she went the distance and gave up one hit in the shutout to improve to 7-11. She also struck out seven Husky batters. Chelsea Eckert (3-9) took the loss and lasted just the one inning. The Tigers pegged her and Lauren Duggan for 12 runs, while the Huskies committed three errors to zero from Memphis.

When Richwood wasn't striking them out, the Tiger defense made sure nobody reached base. In the bottom of the second, Vaughn made the defensive play of the night as she leaped to make an acrobat catch on a line drive that would have surely resulted in a double.

Memphis and UConn will meet again tomorrow for a doubleheader to wrap up the series. First pitch is set for 9 a.m. central, with the finale of the series coming shortly after the completion of the earlier game. Follow the Tigers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @MemphisSoftball to stay up-to-date with news, scores and information about the team.