University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Tennessee-Martin
Memphis Sweeps Doubleheader with UT-Martin
Mar 28, 2007 | Softball
March 28, 2007
Box Score
Game Two Box Score in PDF Format
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon Kolditz
wkolditz@memphis.edu, (901) 871-5475
UT-Martin (14-20) 000 100 0 - 1 2 1 Memphis (20-11) 100 100 0 - 2 3 3 Win - Johnson (8-6) Loss - Harper (6-5) Save - None.
MEMPHIS - Senior pitcher Nicki Johnson surrendered just one unearned run in a full seven innings of work, scattering two hits to give the University of Memphis softball team a 2-1 victory and a sweep of its doubleheader of with UT-Martin on Wednesday at the U of M Softball Complex.
"We came in really focused today," said Memphis head coach Windy Thees. "Our seniors really stepped up. Yesterday we talked about this is the start of our second season and we had 29 games under our belt and 31 left. We met the halfway point, and we wanted to start our second season on the right foot."
Johnson improved to 8-5 on the season and struck out six in the game after retiring the first nine batters to begin the game. Memphis improves to 20-11 on the season, while the Skyhawks fall to 14-20.
Memphis scored in the first inning without a hit. Sophomore shortstop Leila Dolfo and sophomore left fielder Leandra Hines began the game with back-to-back walks and advanced to second and third on a sac bunt from junior catcher Lindsay Kelso. Seniorfirst baseman Kara Ross then drove in Dolfo on a groundout to second base. The RBI is Ross's fourth on the day and her team leading 22nd of the season.
UT-Martin evened the score at one run apiece in the top of the fourth when Brittany Nash reached base on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. A second Memphis error allowed Nash to score from second with two outs. The Lady Tigers had three errors in the game.
Sophomore Brittany Gooch singled in the bottom of the fourth to drive in sophomore Kimmi Hayden for the winning run. Gooch went 2-for-2 in the game and knocked in her first game-winning run of the year.
Memphis will next travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to take on Southern Miss (10-24, 1-5) in a three-game series beginning Saturday.
"We're on a mission to win series," Thees said. "That's our job. When you hit these weekend series, just go out and win. The hardest thing to do is win on the road, but we're focused right now. We're 2-0 in the start of our second season. We're going to go out there and give it our all and take it one game at a time."
Notes
• Kara Ross knocked in her team-leading 22nd RBI of the season in the first inning and Leila Dolfo scored her 18th run.
• Brittany Gooch hit in her third RBI of the season with a single in the fourth inning that gave Memphis a 2-1 lead. Kimmi Hayden scored her sixth run on the play.
• Nicki Johnson retired the first nine Skyhawks in order to begin the game. Johnson allowed just one infield hit through the first five innings.
• Brittany Gooch had her third multi-hit game with two singles.
• Brittany Gooch's RBI single in the fourth proved to be the game-winner. It is the first of the year for the sophomore. Kimmi Hayden scored her third game-winning run of the year.
