University of Memphis Athletics
Memphis Picked Fourth in C-USA Softball Preseason Poll
Jan 25, 2012 | Softball
Jan. 25, 2012
IRVING, Texas – The University of Memphis softball team was selected fourth in the Conference USA Preseason Softball poll as selected by the league's coaches. Junior pitcher Carly Hummel and senior first baseman Jessica Phillips represent the U of M on the Preseason All-C-USA Team.
The fourth place selection is the highest preseason pick for Memphis in the program's seven year history. The Tigers finished fourth out of nine teams in the conference in 2011 with a 36-14 overall record and went 15-7 in league play. The U of M was one of five teams from C-USA to make the NCAA Tournament. Tulsa, the reigning Conference USA regular season softball champion, is the 2012 preseason favorite to repeat.
"I'm definitely pleased that this is the highest rank that we've ever had," said Memphis head coach Natalie Poole. "I think that we do have a lot to prove. We have a new coaching staff here, so people are a little unsure of how that will work out as well. At least some people believe that we're going to be above the middle of the pack, which is good."
Memphis returns 14 of 21 letterwinners from last year's NCAA Regional team, including five position starters and three of four pitchers. The team ranked 18th in the nation in 2011 with a 1.81 ERA and finished the year ranked 44th in the RPI.
Hummel joins Tulsa sophomore Aimee Creger for the pitching selections on the Preseason All-C-USA Team. Hummel ranked 23rd in the nation in 2011 with a school record 1.46 ERA and was fourth nationally in hits allowed per seven innings with 3.37. In two seasons with the U of M, the Bakersfield, Calif., native is 36-18 with 1.60 ERA, 406 strikeouts, 13 shutouts and three no-hitters.
"When I've gone out in the region and talked to the other coaches they've told me that we're going to be fine as long as we have Carly," Poole said. "I feel like she's well respected out there in the softball community, which is great. I feel like we can be in contention, and I think she's going to be an impactful player for us."
Hummel earned victories in 2011 against No. 22 Ohio State and three NCAA Super Regional participants in #16 Stanford, Kentucky and Houston. Hummel struck out a school record 19 batters last year against No. 22 Texas A&M.
Phillips became one of the league's biggest offensive threats as a junior in 2011. The Chattanooga, Tenn., native set school records in home runs with 15 and RBI with 44. She finished second in the conference in homers, one behind C-USA Player of the Year Melissa Gregson (Houston), and third in the league in RBI. She was 17th in the nation in home runs per game.
"She brings a lot of maturity to the field," Poole said. "She takes failure as well as success. I think those are definitely going to be two players (Phillips and Hummel) that people are recognizing as well as us that are going to be impactful. She does bring what some others don't have. I think that's going to help us."
A three-time C-USA Hitter of the Week selection in 2011, Phillips has played in 141 career games with 127 starts and is batting .255 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI and 40 runs scored. She hit two grand slams in 2011 coming against Arkansas and UTEP and tied a C-USA record with three home runs in a 3-for-4 game against the Miners.
Memphis opens its 2012 season on February 10 at the Mardi Gras Invitational in Mobile, Ala., against No. 2/3 Alabama. The Tigers play the first two weekends on the road at tournaments that also include the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., before opening its home schedule with a game against Mississippi Valley State on February 21. The U of M will then host the Blues City Classic from February 24-26 that includes Miami (Ohio), Western Illinois, Northern Iowa, Missouri State and Southeastern Missouri State.
| Preseason Poll (1st place votes) | ||
| 1. | Tulsa (7) | 79 |
| 2. | Houston (1) | 67 |
| 3. | UAB (1) | 60 |
| 4. | Memphis | 52 |
| 5. | East Carolina | 39 |
| 6. | UCF | 33 |
| 7. | Southern Miss | 32 |
| 8. | Marshall | 27 |
| 9. | UTEP | 16 |
| Preseason All-C-USA Team | |
| P | Aimee Creger, Tulsa, So. |
| P | Carly Hummel, Memphis, Jr. |
| C | Rebecca Gamby, Marshall, Sr. |
| IF | Samantha Cobb, Tulsa, Jr. |
| IF | Holly Anderson, Houston, Jr. |
| IF | Natalie Land, UCF, Sr. |
| IF | Jessica Phillips, Memphis, Sr. |
| IF | Jill Barrett, Tulsa, So. |
| IF | Kristi Oshiro, East Carolina, So. |
| OF | Caitlin Everett, Tulsa, Jr. |
| OF | Leslie LeJune, Southern Miss, Sr. |
| OF | Suzanne Riggs, East Carolina, Sr. |
| OF | Melissa Gregson, Houston, Sr. |
| DP | Jill Jelnick, East Carolina, So. |
| UT | Chelsea Troupe, UTEP, Sr. |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Melissa Gregson, Houston, Sr. |
| Preseason Pitcher of the Year |
| Aimee Creger, Tulsa, So. |
