Softball Earns Split With 10-2 Rout of Austin Peay

Wednesday, March 29

Southaven, Miss.

5 PM

University of Memphis

18-15

Austin Peay

10-18-2

Austin Peay

Memphis

Nicki Johnson fired a two-hitter, while going 2-for-3 at the plate

Mar 29, 2006 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

March 29, 2006

Box Score

Game 1 Box Score in PDF Format
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Game 2 Box Score in PDF Format
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APSU	000 110 0  -  2  4  0
Memphis	100 000 0  -  1  3  1


APSU 	020 000  -   2   2  2
Memphis	304 003  -  10  14  1

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - Leila Dolfo and Bridgette McNulty each had first-inning homeruns and Nicki Johnson pitched a two-hit gem to lead the Memphis softball team to 10-2 rout of Austin Peay in the second half of a double-header at Greenbrook Park. The win gave the U of M a split of the twinbill after it dropped a tough, 2-1 decision in game one.

Memphis got off to quick starts in both games, taking first-inning leads on the Lady Govs in each contest. In game one, however, Austin Peay used a pair of late runs to take a come-from-behind victory.

The story was much different in game two, with the Lady Tigers taking the leading and continuing the attack to take the win by the eight-run rule.

"We're excited to get a win over a tough Austin Peay team," said Coach Windy Thees. "Nicki Johnson really had an outstanding performance, both on the mound and at the plate, to help us get the split."

In addition to holding APSU to two hits and no earned runs, Johnson was 2-for-3 at the plate in game two with a two-RBI double and a run scored.

Memphis took an early lead in the first game of the day, bringing its lone run across in the bottom of the first. Cara Stiles walked to lead off the inning, stole second and scored on a Kara Ross single through the right side.

Austin Peay came back to tie the game in the fourth when Ami Bush doubled and scored on a Megan Brooks single. The Lady Govs then took the lead in the fifth, loading the bases with no outs before Nikki Garrett scored on a fielder's choice by Bush.

Following the first-inning run APSU starter Natasha Anderson silenced the Lady Tiger bats the rest of the way to claim her seventh victory of the season.

Dolfo took the loss in game one, working four innings and allowing two earned runs on four hits to fall to 3-5 on the year.

The U of M managed just three hits in the first half of the double-header, with McNulty and Kimmi Hayden each picking up a double, while Ross added a single and the lone RBI.

After dropping the disappointing decision in the first game, Memphis stormed back in the first inning of game two, using the homeruns by Dolfo and McNulty to take a 3-0 lead. Dolfo's blast, a two-run shot down the leftfield line, was her forth of the season, while McNulty's, a solo job down the rightfield line, was her, team-leading, ninth of the year.

Austin Peay, again would not go quietly, coming back to cut the deficit to one in the top of the second on a walk, an error and a two-RBI double by Jennifer Simpkins.

The Lady Tigers rebounded to increase the advantage to five in the bottom half of the third, scoring four runs on a pair of hits, a walk and two Lady Gov errors. Johnson ripped a double down the leftfield line to score Dolfo and Ross, before Laura Mahoney singled up the middle to score Hayden and Johnson and give the U of M a 7-2 lead.

Memphis then ended the game in the top of the sixth, using a Stiles double and four singles in a row by Dolfo, Ross, McNulty and Hayden to plate three runs and take the eight-run advantage.

Johnson took the win in game two, striking out nine in six innings to move to 8-6 on the season.

McNulty was 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Stiles, Dolfo, Ross and Johnson added two hits apiece.

With the split, Memphis moves to 18-15 on the season, while Austin Peay improves its record to 10-18-2.

"It is good to get a win to carry us into the break," said Thees. "Hopefully we can regroup and be more consistent in the second half of the season."

The Lady Tigers will have a full week off before returning to action next Wednesday, April 5, when they travel to Martin, Tenn., for a double-header against UT-Martin.