Three-run Sixth Lifts Memphis to 3-2 Comeback Over Georgia State

Saturday, February 19

Atlanta, Ga.

4:45 PM

University of Memphis

4-4

Georgia State

5-2

Georgia State

Memphis

Three-run Sixth Lifts Memphis to 3-2 Comeback Over Georgia State

Feb 19, 2011 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 19, 2011

Box Score

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ATLANTA, Ga. - A three-run sixth inning rally lifted the University of Memphis softball team to a 3-2 comeback victory over the host Georgia State at the Panther Invitational on Saturday.

A lead-off single by Kailey Kassner started the rally in the bottom of the sixth inning for Memphis (5-2). Senior Alex Marshall pinch-ran for Kassner and with one out in the inning, Kamri Chester doubled to right field to move Marshall to third and set-up freshman Ashleigh King with runners in scoring position and one out.

King singled to left field to drive in Marshall and put the Tigers within one at 2-1. King later stole second and Alyssa Palmieri stepped to the plate with two outs and runners at second and third. Palmieri singled to left center and both runners scored to put the Tigers ahead 3-2.

Lauren Carley made the start for Memphis and pitched four strong innings and allowed one run on two hits and struck out four. Janelle Valle picked up the win in relief after throwing two innings and allowed one run on three hits and struck out one.

Carly Hummel recorded her first career save as she pitched a scoreless top of the seventh by striking out the side for the second time in the day. Hummel also recorded a complete game victory in a 1-0 shutout over Appalachian State earlier in the day and finished the two games with eight innings pitched and 11 strikeouts.

Memphis left two runs on the board early in the game after Lelani Bernardino was thrown out at the plate following a Kassner single in the third inning. In the fifth, Palmieri was thrown out at the plate after Bernardino stole second base on a delayed double steal attempt.

Bernardino, Kassner and Palmieri each led Memphis with two hits and Palmieri had the game-winning RBI's.

Georgia State falls to 4-4 on the season and McCall Langford (0-2) picked up the loss after throwing five and two-thirds innings allowing three runs on nine hits.

Memphis will face Lipscomb at 10 a.m. (ET) on Sunday and a to be determined opponent at 2:30 p.m. (ET) in the championship game of the tournament. The Tigers were the only team to finish 2-0 in the first day of the tournament.

Game Notes: Lauren Carley made her fifth career start for Memphis... Alyssa Palmieri had her second multi-RBI game of the season and career on Saturday after also knocking in a pair of runs in overtime against Ohio State...Carly Hummel picked up her first career save after pitching a perfect seventh inning and striking out the side for the second time in the day...Janelle Valle earned the victory in relief, her first since throwing a two-hit shutout against UCF in 2009...The 5-2 start for Memphis matches the program's best start along with the 2006 season...Lelani Bernardino had her first multi-hit game of the season and 26th of her career...Alyssa Palmieri had her first multi-hit game of the season and second of her career...Kailey Kassner had her first multi-hit game of the season and 11th of her career...Ashleigh King knocked in her second RBI of the season...The game marked the third-straight one-run victory for Memphis. The Tigers are 3-2 in one-run games this year with five of their seven games decided by a run.