University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
11-27, 0
Southern Miss
11-20, 0
Memphis Wins Series with Southern Miss after Doubleheader Split
Apr 01, 2012 | Softball
April 1, 2012
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Memphis (11-27, 2-10 C-USA) earned its first Conference USA series victory of the year, winning the three-game series two games to one.
Jordan Richwood threw a one-hit shutout in game one, allowing just one base runner and retiring the first 14 batters in order. The freshman also pitched two and a third innings of no-hit ball in game two and struck out seven in a combined nine and a third innings.
Laura Curtis went 4-for-6 in the doubleheader with a RBI in each game. She finished the series going 7-for-10.
Memphis will next travel to Tulsa for a three-game series on Friday and Saturday, April 6-7.
Game One
Jordan Richwood threw a one-hit shutout as the University of Memphis defeated Southern Miss in game one, 2-0.
Senior Alyssa Palmieri had a RBI triple and junior Laura Curtis hit a solo home run to provide the offense for Memphis.
Richwood (3-7) retired 14-straight batters to begin the game and allowed just one base runner. A two-out single by Carissa Turang in the top of the fifth broke up the perfect game and snapped a streak of 23-consecutive outs by the freshman dating back to Wednesday's shutout against Murray State.
The shutout is the second-straight for the freshman. Richwood finished the game with five strikeouts, one hit and no walks.
Memphis took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Freshman Sara Pearson led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs Palmieri lined her third triple of the season to left center and drive in the first run of the game. The three triples on the year ties her for first in school history along with Heather Mott (2008) and Maddie McKinley (2011).
The Tigers increased their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third on a solo home run by Curtis to left field. It was her second home run of the season. Jessica Phillips later followed with a double to left center and Pearson looked to have replicated the hit immediately after, but USM center fielder Leslie Lejune made a diving catch to retire the side.
Courtney Ramos (4-8) suffered the loss in the circle for Southern Miss. Ramos allowed two runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Beth Dietrich pitched the final three innings in relief and allowed no runs on two hits with three strikeouts.
Game Two
A two-run fourth by Southern Miss spoiled an early lead for the University of Memphis as the Tigers fell 2-1 in game two of the doubleheader and final game of the series.
Junior Laura Curtis led Memphis with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate and drove in the only U of M run with a double in the first inning. But the Golden Eagles scored two runs on four hits in the fourth to steal the victory.
Ellen Roberts (6-13) started the game for Memphis after throwing all 13 innings in the marathon 3-2 victory on Saturday. The sophomore coasted easily through the first three innings before being struck with four hits and two runs in the top of the fourth. Jordan Richwood then entered in relief and struck out her first batter to end the fourth with two runners on base.
Roberts allowed two runs on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts in four and two-third innings. Richwood pitched the final two and a third and did not allow a run, hit or walk with two strikeouts.
Memphis quickly took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Morgan Mosby led off the frame with a four-pitch walk and scored on a double down the left line by Curtis. After Sara Pearson walked to put runners on first and second with nobody out, Beth Dietrich relieved starter Gabby Luciani in the circle for USM and retired the next three Memphis batters to get out of the inning with just the one run.
Southern Miss went up 2-1 with two runs on four hits in the fourth inning. Caroline Walker led off the inning with a double to for the first Golden Eagle hit in the game. A single by Chanell Thurman put runners at the corners and Carissa Turang followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score the first run. With two outs, Stephanie Shiflet singled through the left side to put runners at the corners and Mackenzie Sher singled to short to drive in the go-ahead run.
Memphis put the tying run on second in both the sixth and seventh innings. With runners on first and second with one out in the sixth, but a double play ended the rally. The Tigers had two hits in the seventh inning, but stranded runners at first and second to end the game.
Dietrich (5-8) picked up the win after allowing no runs on four hits in seven innings of relief.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: DIETRICH, Beth (5-8)
L: Roberts, Ellen (6-13)
Batting:
2B: WALKER, Caroline 1
RBI: TURANG, Carissa 1 ; SHER, Mackenzie 1
SF: TURANG, Carissa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WALKER, Caroline 1 ; THURMAN, Chanell 1
Batting:
2B: Curtis, Laura 1
RBI: Curtis, Laura 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mosby, Morgan 1
