Pitching Dominates Mississippi Valley State in Doubleheader Sweep

Wednesday, March 16

Memphis, Tenn.

4 PM

University of Memphis

16-5

Mississippi Valley State

5-15

Miss. Valley State

Memphis

Freshman Ellen Roberts earned the victory in game two's 2-0 win over Mississippi Valley State.

Pitching Dominates Mississippi Valley State in Doubleheader Sweep

Mar 16, 2011 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

March 16, 2011

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

Game One PDF Box

Game Two PDF Box

MEMPHIS - Carly Hummel threw a five-inning no hitter in an 8-0 game one victory leading the University of Memphis to a pair of shutouts in a doubleheader sweep over Mississippi Valley State on Wednesday. The Tigers (17-5) won game two 2-0 over the Delta Devils (5-16) in a combined shutout by freshman Ellen Roberts and senior Lauren Carley.

Hummel picked up her second no hitter of the season and first since throwing one to open the 2011 season against North Florida. It is the seventh no hitter in school history. The Bakersfield, Calif., native allowed just one base runner in the game, a two-out walk in the fourth inning, and struck out seven.

Jessica Phillips blasted two home runs in the opening game, including a three-run shot to center that led to a five-run fifth inning. The junior first baseman finished 2-for-3 in the game with four RBI and leads the team with six home runs on the year. It is her second two homer game of the season and third in her career.

Kailey Kassner also finished 2-for-3 in the game, including a walk-off double to center to give Memphis the 8-0 run-rule victory in the bottom of the fifth. In game two, Roberts earned the start in the circle and improved to 2-0 on the season. She scattered three hits with three strikeouts in four and a third innings of work. Carley earned her first career save in the game, holding the Delta Devils scoreless in the final two and two-thirds innings. She allowed two hits recorded strikeouts on six of the eight outs.

Memphis scored a run in the first inning on a throwing error and another in the fourth inning on a single by senior catcher Keanah Prestridge.

The Tiger bats were slow to get started in the opening game with MVSU until Lelani Bernardino hit her first home run of the year to centerfield to leadoff the third inning. Phillips then game Memphis a 2-0 lead with a solo shot to center to lead off the fourth. Pinch runner Morgan Mosby also scored in the inning, advancing home on one of five Mississippi Valley State errors.

In the fifth inning, after a walk and an error put runners on first and second for the U of M with nobody out, Phillips crushed her second home run in the game to left center. Freshman Ashleigh King then reached base on an error by the right fielder that also allowed her to move to second. Kamri Chester followed with an RBI single to right center. With one out, Kassner ended the game with her second double of the year.

In game two, Maddie McKinley reached base on a fielder's choice with two outs and advanced to second on an error. Phillips followed with a soft infield hit that was thrown away allowing McKinley to score from second.

Mississippi Valley State put runners at the corners in the fourth inning with one out and trailing by one on a couple of singles. But Roberts pitched out of the jam, getting a groundball hit to third and a pop out to short in foul territory to end the inning.

Memphis then answered with an insurance run in the bottom of the inning. Kassner walked for the second time in the game and Chester followed with a walk. Prestridge singled up the middle to score pinch runner Alex Marshall from second.

The Tigers will continue their five-game home stand with a three-game conference series with preseason favorite Houston on Saturday and Sunday. The two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday and close with a single contest at noon on Sunday.