Tigers Fall in Friday Doubleheader to UCF

Friday, April 17

Memphis, Tenn.

4 PM

University of Memphis

14-26, 2-9

#15 UCF

42-6, 13-1

UCF

Memphis

Apr 17, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

April 17, 2015

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Tigers fell in both games of a doubleheader 8-3 and 9-0 in five innings against No. 15 UCF in an American Athletic Conference matchup at the Tiger Softball Complex on Friday afternoon.

Expected incoming weather over the weekend forced the teams to move the game up a day in hope of avoiding delays and rainouts. Rain delayed an original first pitch of 10 a.m., but the games finally got going at 2 p.m.

The Tigers move to 14-26 and 2-9 in the AAC with the pair of losses. UCF ensures another series win as the Knights are now 42-6 and 13-1 in the conference.

Lindsay Crowdus hit a slap-triple over the center fielder's head in the bottom of the fourth inning of game one. She came around to score the first run for the Tigers on a Katie Brignac groundout. It was Crowdus' fifth triple of the season and 12th of her career. For Brignac, it was her team-leading 21st RBI.

GAME ONE -- Memphis 3 UCF 8

Box Score Game One

The Tigers faced Central Florida's no. 1 pitcher in the first game in Shelby Turnier, who came into the game with a 0.66 ERA, which is the best in the country.

Memphis would end up putting three runs on the board against her, well above her average, with runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. The Tigers had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the sixth when it was 5-3, but were unable to capitalize.

UCF jumped ahead with three runs in the first inning. After a ground out, Kahley Novak got the game's first hit. She'd then steal second and third before a single from Brittany Solis brought her in. A two-out single brought in the other two runs.

Hannah Harrell got the first Memphis hit in the bottom of the inning with a one-out double, but she moved no further than that.

The Tigers would put a couple of runners on again, but finally broke through in the fourth after Crowdus led off with her triple. In the fifth, Sami Jo Schulz reached on an error, and then Addison Maxwell singled. Kyler Trosclair reached on a fielder's choice with Schulz being thrown out at third. With two outs, Harrell dropped one between the shortstop and diving right fielder, allowing Maxwell to score to make it 5-2.

Brittany Vaughn was hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth inning. Anna Thomas came through with a double, and then Schulz drove her in with a sacrifice fly. Brooke Lee came in as a pinch hitter and represented the tying run, but struck out to end the inning.

The Knights scored another three runs in the seventh, highlighted by a two-run home run, the third of the game. Memphis was unable to push anybody across in its final at-bat.

Jordan Richwood (7-14) took the loss for the Tigers. She pitched six complete innings and gave up nine hits and eight earned runs while striking out three. Molly Smith came in and pitched the final inning after UCF scored its three runs.

Turnier went the distance for the Knights. She gave up six hits and three earned runs while striking out seven Tiger batters.

The Tiger defense and pitching staff did a good job of keeping Linnea Goodman at bay in the first game. She came in leading the conference in hits and went 0-5 in the first game. Smith struck her out in her final at bat of the seventh inning.

GAME TWO -- Memphis 0 UCF 9

Box Score Game Two

Anna Thomas broke up a no-hit bid from Mackenzie Audas in the second game as the Knights won big in the second game of the doubleheader.

UCF outhit the Tigers 11-1, with Thomas' lone hit coming in the bottom of the fifth after Vaughn had earned a walk to become the first Memphis runner in the second game.

Brignac took the loss for the Tigers as she threw 4.2 innings and gave up 11 hits and nine runs, seven of which were earned. Smith came in to get the final out of the top of the fifth.

Goodman got things going in the first inning for the Knights as she reached on an error. She was bunted over to second, and then a single from Solis scored her from there.

UCF scored three more in the third with a three-run homer from Jessica Ujvari to make it 4-0. An illegal pitch drove in the fifth run in the fourth inning.

In the fifth, the Tigers got the first out on a ground out to third, and it seemed as if they got the second with a fly out to Crowdus at center, but the umpire called an illegal pitch, giving second life to the UCF batter Kalyen Cenel. She responded with a solo home run.

After getting the second out, a single and a walk set up Novak for an inside-the-park home run to put UCF up 9-0. Harrell charged in on a line drive that was curling away from her. She tried to dive to make the play but it landed just out of her reach and ran all the way to the corner.

Tiger batters struggled to get anything going off of Audas as she finished with eight strike outs, the one walk administered to Vaughn and the one hit Thomas had off of her.

The series finale is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at one. If weather does not permit the game to be played then, game three will be moved to Sunday at noon.

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