Tigers Take The Series Over UConn

Saturday, April 21

Memphis, Tenn.

2 PM

University of Memphis

UConn

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Apr 21, 2018 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Softball splits Saturday doubleheader to take two of three from Huskies

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis softball team split the Saturday doubleheader against UConn, winning game one by a score of 8-0 before falling in game two by a score of 10-0. The Tigers move to 33-16 overall and 8-7 in American Athletic Conference play. The eight AAC wins this season mark a program-high since joining The American in 2014.

The teams experienced scoreless play for the first three innings of game one before a sacrifice fly by Brooke Lee scored Memphis' first run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Tigers tacked on one run in the bottom of the fifth inning before erupting offensively in the bottom half of the sixth. With two runs already across the plate and the bases loaded, Tyler Johnson hit a pinch-hit grand slam to lift Memphis to an 8-0 run-rule victory. Molly Smith picked up the win in game one to improve to 21-6 on the year.

After being shutout in the first two games of the series, the UConn offense came alive in game three. The Huskies put up three runs in the first inning and four in the second to take the lead over Memphis.

Regan Hadley tripled to lead off the bottom of the third inning, but was ultimately stranded in the Tigers' attempt at getting a rally started. Mariah Nichols was handed the loss in game two, falling to 11-8 on the year. Katie Brignac came in relief in the top of the fourth inning and put in two scoreless innings of work with a strikeout for the Tigers.

Tiger Tibits

Tyler Johnson's grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning of game one was the second grand slam of the season for Memphis. Both grand slams have been in pinch-hit situations.
Addison Maxwell went 2-for-3 in game one to lead Memphis offensively. She and Regan Hadley recorded hits in both games for the Tigers.
Regan Hadley's triple in the second inning of game two was her third this season, a career-high. The Tigers have 19 triples this season as a team.
Molly Smith's 21^st win in game one puts her just three wins away from matching the program record for wins in a season.
Smith is also 21 strikeouts shy of matching the program record for strikeouts in a career. Ellen Roberts holds the record after hurling 488 K's from 2011 to 2014.
Eight conference wins for the Tigers is a program-high since joining The American in 2014. Memphis won eight conference games in 2013, its last season as a member of Conference USA.
This is the third consecutive year Memphis has won the season series against UConn two games to one.

Scoring
Game 1: Memphis 8, UConn 0
Bottom 4 – Baylee Smith led the inning off with a bunt single and advanced to third on a single by Addison Maxwell. A sacrifice fly to left field by Brooke Lee drove in Smith. (1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base)
Bottom 5 – Erin Parker, with one out, recorded a bunt single to the catcher. She stole two bases and scored on an infield single by Delaney Smith. (1 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base)
Bottom 6 – Baylee Smith reached on a fielding error by the UConn shortstop. Smith advanced to third on a single by Addison Maxwell and a walk drawn by Brooke Lee. She scored on a single to left by Regan Hadley. Maxwell scored on a single to center by Rebeca Melton. Tyler Johnson capped it all off with a pinch-hit grand slam to end the contest. (6 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 0 left on base)

Game 2: UConn 10, Memphis 0
Top 1 – A double combined with a single and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for UConn. The Huskies then singled up middle to score two runs. Another single, this time to second base, lifted UConn to a 3-0 lead. (3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base)
Top 2 – Back-to-back singles combined with a home run with no outs scored the first three runs of the inning. The bases were then loaded on a pair of walks and a hit by pitch. A sacrifice fly to right field drove in the fourth run of the inning. (4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base)
Top 3 – A three-run home run with two outs gave UConn a 10-0 lead. (3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base)

Next Up For The Tigers
Memphis has one midweek remaining on the schedule in a road game at Central Arkansas Tuesday evening. First pitch against the Bears is scheduled for 5 p.m. in Conway, Ark.

Tiger fans can follow the team's live scoring through the Official Memphis Tigers app by Sidearm, available in both Apple and Android app stores. For more information on the University of Memphis softball team, follow the Tigers on Facebook and Twitter at @MemphisSoftball.