Softball Falls to Northern Iowa 5-2

Sunday, February 21

Tempe, Ariz.

12:15 p.m.

University of Memphis

1-9

Northern Iowa

8-3

MEMPHIS

UNI

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Feb 21, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

Brittany Seale throws out three runners on steal attempts.

By: Tammy DeGroff

MEMPHIS – The Tiger softball team had hoped to use its last game at the Arizona State tournament to jump out early and prevent having to work from behind. But Northern Iowa scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second and third innings and withheld a Memphis rally in a 5-2 win, Sunday.

Freshman Tyler Johnson went 2-for-4, scoring one run, while Addison Maxwell and Lindsay Crowdus each tallied an RBI in the loss that drops Memphis to 1-9 on the season.

Both innings started with the lead-off batter drawing a walk. In the second inning, Kennedy Bailey walked and scored on a throwing error from the Tigers. But before UNI could do any more damage, Memphis catcher Brittany Seale threw out a runner at second to end the inning down 2-0.

The third inning again saw a walk turn in to a run, followed by a second score before the end of the inning. But Memphis had an answer in the top of the fourth, down 4-0. Johnson singled down the left field line to opening the inning and moved over to second on the sacrifice from Lindsey Stickrod. Brooke Lee drew a walk, putting runners on first and second for freshman Regan Hadley. Hadley was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. UNI then walked Addison Maxwell to push a Tiger score across and when Crowdus singled to center field, she scored the second run of the inning for Memphis.

But the Tigers were caught at the plate for a third out, stranding two runners on base, and trailing 4-2.
Seale again stood strong for Memphis behind the plate, throwing out UNI runners in both the fourth and sixth innings, but the Panthers still got one more run across when centerfielder Michalla Rettinger singled, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Pitcher Chelsea Ross then singled to push Rettinger across for the final 5-2 score.

In the top of the seventh, Memphis tried to rally one more time. Kyler Trosclair singled and moved to scoring position when Hannah Harrell was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. Memphis' next two batters struck out and Stickrod popped out to end the game, stranding the eighth and ninth runners of the game.

Memphis will return to more regional opponents this coming weekend, participating in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Softball Classic in Gulfport, Miss., beginning Friday against Jackson State. Memphis will also face Mississippi Valley, Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls State at the tournament before opening play at home on Tuesday, Mar. 1^st against Jackson State at 5 p.m.