Kassner's pinch-hit gives Tigers 5-4 win

Friday, April 2

Memphis, Tenn.

4 PM

University of Memphis

18-12, 5-4

Marshall

16-17, 2-8

Marshall

Memphis

Kailey Kassner broke a 4-4 tie in the seventh with her game-winning RBI single.

Apr 02, 2010 | Softball

Box Score

April 2, 2010

box score

Box Score MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Marshall came into Memphis planning to win their 10th straight softball game against the Tigers, but Kailey Kassner had other plans.

Kassner's pinch-hit single scored Leigh Rowan in the bottom half of the seventh inning to break a 4-4 tie and give Memphis its second win ever in softball against the Thundering Herd. The win broke a nine-game losing streak to Marshall.

Several other Tigers came up just as big. Vanessa Walle registered her third multi-hit and second three-hit game in Memphis' last five contests. Leigh Rowan reached base four times going 2-2 and drawing two walks. Carly Hummel went the distance on the mound picking up the 10th win of her freshman season.

Alyssa Palmieri got the big plays going for Memphis in the top of the first with a diving stop at second to retire Marshall's side.

Memphis took a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first inning when Vanessa Walle's double off of the top of the wall in left-center scored Leigh Rowan, who'd reached base on a fielder's choice. The RBI was Walle's team-leading sixth in C-USA games.

Marshall tied the game in the second when Marcena Bertoldo drew a full-count bases-loaded walk off of Carly Hummel, which scored Ashley Gue. Gue was running for Rebecca Gamby who started the rally with a one-out double. Marshall took the lead when the next batter Samantha Spurlock drew another full-count walk from Hummel scoring Melanie Stoehr. Hummel would come back and get Aliana Telles to pop out to short and strike out BriAnna Hope to end the inning.

Stoehr would extend Marshall's lead to 3-1 with a home run to left field in the top of the fourth.

Jessica Phillips came up big for Memphis in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out, bases-loaded single that scored Kim Sirman, who was running for Rowan, and Keenah Prestridge. Prestridge reached base after drawing a walk after a 16-pitch at-bat. The two RBIs were Phillips second and third in C-USA play, and marked her third multi-RBI game of the season overall.

The Tigers then took the lead on Lelani Bernardino's second hit of the game, a single that scored Alex Marshall who was re-entered after Nikki Moreno drew a pinch hit walk.

Marshall tied the game when Telles, who'd singled, scored on a groundout to third by Herd freshman Jazmine Valle, the sister of Tiger junior Janelle Valle. Memphis got out of the inning a batter later when Gamby singled for Marshall. Caitlyn Jackson tried to score on the play, but Bernardino threw her out at home from left field.

In the sixth, Stoehr gave Memphis another scare until Alex Marshall's diving grab in center allowed Tiger fans to breathe easier.

Rowan's second walk of the game off of Jackson would lead off the seventh with the score still tied. Walle's third hit of the game, a single, moved runners to first and second. Mott then hit into a fielder's choice at second leaving Rowan safe at third and Mott safe at first with one out. Mott then stole second and Marshall intentionally walked Prestridge to load the bases for pinch-hitter Kassner.

Kassner ended the game with a single through the left side of the infield scoring Rowan for the game-winning hit. She now has three pinch hits this season to lead the team.

The win improves Memphis 5-4 in Conference USA play, and improves their record in one-run games to 4-5.

Game two of the Friday doubleheader will start at approximately 6:45 p.m. at Tiger Softball Complex.