Memphis Drops Two in Sunshine State

Saturday, February 17

Tallahassee, Fla.

4:30 PM

University of Memphis

5-5

Kansas

5-3-1

Kansas

Memphis

Feb 17, 2007 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Feb. 17, 2007

Box Score

Memphis-FSU Box Score in PDF Format
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Memphis-Kansas Box Score in PDF Format
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon Kolditz
wkolditz@memphis.edu, (901) 871-5475

Kansas (5-3-1)  023 000 0 -- 5 8 1
Memphis (5-5)   000 002 0 -- 2 2 0
2B - (KAN) Stanton
HR - (KAN) Crisosto (1), Jobe (1). (MEM) Nance (1)
WP - Humphreys (4-0). LP - Kubesch (3-2). Save - George (1).

Memphis (5-4)		000 000 -- 0  0 5
#22 Florida State (8-1)	000 341 -- 8 10 1
2B - (FSU) Alicart (2), Langston (1).
WP - May (2-0). LP - Johnson (2-3). Save - None.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The University of Memphis softball team lost the final two games of the Sunshine State Tournament hosted by No. 22 Florida State on Saturday. The Lady Tigers (5-5) were no hit by the FSU (8-1) in an 8-0 six-inning loss and then dropped a 5-2 contest to tournament champion Kansas (5-3-1).

Junior first baseman Melissa Nance provided the only offense for Memphis in the day with a two-run blast off the center field scoreboard at JoAnne Graf Field. The home run is Nance's first hit of the season and fifth career round tripper.

Memphis was no-hit for the first time in the program's history by Florida State. Melissa May pitched six hitless innings for FSU and struck out three. Memphis had four base runners in the game, but hit into three double plays. The no-hitter was preserved with one out in the sixth inning after an error was charged to the third baseman on a difficult play on a ball hit down the line by sophomore left fielder Leandra Hines.

Senior pitcher Nicki Johnson (2-3) pitched five and a third innings in the loss. Johnson allowed five earned runs on 10 hits and struck out three. The Seminoles scored three runs in the third and four in the fifth before a walk-off double by Yuruby Alicart closed the door on the Lady Tigers with the final run in the sixth.

A pair of Kansas home runs helped the Jayhawks win by three. Amanda Jobe hit a two-run shot in the second inning and was followed by a three-run dinger by Stevie Crisosto in the third. Tournament MVP Kassie Humphreys pitched five and a third innings for Kansas and struck out 10. The only hits in the game for Memphis were Nance's home run and a first inning single by junior catcher Lindsay Kelso.

Memphis stranded eight runners in the game with Kansas and had the bases loaded in the fifth. Jenna Kubesch (3-2) pitched four innings in the loss and gave up six hits with four strikeouts. Sophomore Lyndsey Sterling saw her first action of the season as a pitcher and pitched three scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

Senior first baseman Kara Ross and Kelso were both named to the all-tournament team.

Memphis will next host the Blues City Classic beginning on Friday at Greenbrook Park in Southaven, Miss. The three-day tournament will include Alabama A&M, Central Arkansas, Evansville, Mississippi Valley State and SEMO.

Notes  Today's games are the first meetings for Memphis against Florida State and Kansas.
 With the loss to No. 22 Florida State, Memphis is now 0-4 against ranked opponents and 0-3 in 2007.
 The Florida State no-hitter is the first time Memphis has been blanked in its history. The Lady Tigers have only had one hit or less twice.
 The Florida State game allowed a reunion for Memphis head coach Windy Thees. Thees was a four-year starter for FSU coach JoAnne Graf.
 Lyndsey Sterling saw her first pitching action of the season against Kansas. Sterling pitched a career high three innings and had three strikeouts. Her previous high was one inning and two strikeouts.
 The first hit of the season was a bomb for Melissa Nance. Nance hit a two-run shot deep off the centerfield scoreboard against Kansas.
 Senior first baseman Kara Ross and junior catcher Lindsey Kelso were both named to the all-tournament team.