Softball Opens Season with 4-2 Victory Over Centenary

Friday, February 9

Baton Rouge, La.

11 AM

University of Memphis

1-0

Centenary

0-1

Memphis

Centenary

Softball Opens Season with 4-2 Victory Over Centenary

Feb 09, 2007 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 9, 2007

Box Score

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon Kolditz
wkolditz@memphis.edu, (901) 871-5475

Memphis (1-0)    013  000  0  --  4 10 1
Centenary (0-1)  100  001  0  --  2  5 1
2B - (MEM) L. Pridgen, L. Dolfo (2), K. Hayden.
WP - N. Johnson (1-0). LP - K. Greeson (0-1). Save - None.

BATON ROUGE, La. - With a season under its belt, the University of Memphis softball team opened its sophomore year looking like a team that had been around for years. The Lady Tigers (1-0) knocked around 10 hits, including four doubles, cruising to a 4-2 victory over Centenary College (0-1) on Friday to open the Easton Tiger Classic hosted by LSU at Tiger Park.

"Last year, being the first year, everybody was so excited and didn't know what to expect," said Memphis head coach Windy Thees. "There was that unknown and a lot more edginess. I think there's a calm current on this team, and they're on a mission. We understand what we need to do. They're still excited and happy to be here, but the nervousness is gone. Now we got to just get it done, and we know how to do it."

Seven different Lady Tigers collected hits in the win with sophomore's Leila Dolfo and Kimmi Hayden and freshman Heather Mott picking up two apiece. Mott, a freshman shortstop from Pensacola, Fla., went 2-for-2 in her first two official collegiate at-bats and scored the game winner in the third inning after hitting a single and stealing second.

"She had great approaches all day long at the plate," Thees said. "Heather is going to be a force to reckon with in this conference for four years. I'm glad she's a Memphis Tiger."

Memphis senior pitcher Nicki Johnson picked up her first win of the season in a complete game effort. The senior struck out five and scattered five hits.

"I can't say enough about how well Nicki Johnson pitched," Thees said. "She did an outstanding job on the mound and really worked their hitters."

Johnson gained momentum after allowing a first inning run to Centenary without giving up a hit. Following two walks and a fielder's choice, the Haley Bassett scored for the Ladies when Doria Emerald was caught in a rundown on a steal attempt between first and second. With the first inning over, Johnson calmly retired 13 of the next 15 batters as Memphis built a cozy three-point margin.

The Lady Tigers tied the game in the top of the second on a run scored by sophomore Brittany Gooch, who had entered the game as a pinch runner after a Hayden single to lead off the inning. Senior Lindsey Pridgen knocked in the first Memphis RBI of the season with a double over the right fielder's head.

Memphis then came out swinging in the third, scoring three runs on four hits to extend its lead to 4-1. Dolfo led off with a double and Mott followed with her second consecutive single. Senior Bridgette McNulty gave Memphis its first lead with an RBI single, followed by an RBI double from Hayden. Senior Kara Ross ended capped the scoring drive with a sacrifice fly to left field to score McNulty.

Centenary scored its second run in the sixth inning after loading the bases with no outs. The Ladies picked up three hits in the final two innings.

"It was a great win for our team," Thees said. "The team really came together against a tough Centenary team that's had NCAA tournament experience in the past few years. We played together the whole time. We had everybody on the bench participate and ready to play, and everybody on the field gave it their all."

The Lady Tigers will next play No. 9/7 LSU at 3:30 p.m. today. The game will open the season for the Fighting Tigers. The tournament will continue on Saturday with Memphis facing Missouri at 11:15 a.m. and Middle Tennessee State at 6 p.m.