University of Memphis Athletics
Tigers Drop Both Games of Doubleheader to Tulsa
Mar 21, 2015 | Softball
Box Score Gm 1|Box Score Gm 2
TULSA, Okla. - Memphis dropped both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the University of Tulsa in the opening day of American Athletic Conference play at Collins Family Softball Complex, losing 2-1 and 8-0.
Memphis dropped to 9-14 (0-2 AAC) after the two losses, while Tulsa improved to 18-10 (2-0 AAC).
The Tigers drew first blood in the opening game with an RBI single in the first inning from Katie Brignac, but despite several opportunities, they were unable to add anymore runs.
The Golden Hurricane scored all of its runs on a Brittany Walker home run an inning later to make the score 2-1.
Tulsa jumped out to an early lead in game two, up five runs by the middle of the second inning before a pitching change was made.
Memphis used three pitchers in the two games. Jordan Richwood (5-8) went the distance in game one, taking the loss. She gave up just six hits and struck out four. Molly Smith (2-3) pitched the first 1.2 innings of game two, taking the loss while Brignac pitched the rest.
GAME 1: Memphis 1, Tulsa 2
Box Score (PDF)
The Tigers dropped a close game 2-1 in the first AAC game of the 2015 season and Tulsa's first conference game as a member of the American Athletic Conference.
Memphis scored first as back-to-back walks and a catcher's interference set up Brignac for an RBI single past the shortstop in the top of the first inning. The Tigers had the bases loaded with the two outs, but were unable to add any more runs as Brittany Vaughn grounded out to end the half-inning.
Tulsa responded in the bottom of the second inning with a lead off base hit, and then a two-run home run from Brittany Walker, giving the hosts a 2-1 lead.
The Tigers would have multiple chances to come back, as they had a runner on second, third or both in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings, but were unable to capitalize. In the sixth, Anna Thomas reached on an error and was then pinch ran for by Wheeler Hill. Hill advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt, and then third on a Sami Jo Schulz single up the middle. It was the Tigers best chance to score, but a strikeout and groundout ended the threat. The runners left on base were two of 11 for the Tigers in the first game.
Lindsay Crowdus led off the seventh with a base hit and then moved over with a sacrifice bunt, but once again, a strikeout and groundout halted the rally and game.
Richwood picked up the loss for the Tigers despite a good performance and throwing a complete game. Her only blemish was a two-run home run in the second inning, which proved to be the difference.
Memphis outhit the Golden Hurricane 7-6, and had zero errors to Tulsa's 4.
GAME 2: Memphis 0, Tulsa 8
Box Score (PDF)
Walks and errors hurt the Tigers in the second game of the doubleheader as they fell 8-0 in five innings to the Golden Hurricane.
The Golden Hurricane scored five runs in the first two innings to jump out to a big, early lead.
The UofM didn't walk many batters, Smith and Brignac combined for four in the five innings, but rather the timing as a walked batter came around to score in each of the first two innings.
Maddie Withee drew a first-inning leadoff walk for the Golden Hurricane. With two outs, Julie Kernen hit a deep fly to center. Crowdus was running at a full spring and tried to stretch out to make the play, but the ball took an unfortunate hop off of her glove and over the wall for a two-run home run.
In the second inning, a Tulsa runner was walked after a leadoff single. Both would come around to score on a home run from right fielder Erica Sampson. Brignac replaced Smith in the circle with two outs and the Tigers facing a 5-0 deficit. Smith exited with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work.
Brignac quickly got out of the second and threw a scoreless third. In the fourth, Tulsa led off with a double. After a line out, the next batter reached on a fielder's choice where Schulz chose to try to tag the runner as she dived back to second, rather than risk a difficult throw. However, the tag was just a second too late and both runners were safe.
Sampson, the next batter, singled up the center, and a fielding error allowed both runners on base to come around to score, making it 7-0. A wild pitch scored Sampson to make it 8-0.
The Tigers were unable to get the run they needed to continue the game in the fifth, ending the afternoon's matchup.
Memphis managed two hits off of Emily Watson, who the Tigers had chased out of the first game. Brignac threw 2.1 innings in relief, striking out one batter and giving up three runs on two hits.
Tulsa had five hits in the game, with two of them going over the fence.
Memphis returns to action on Sunday at noon for the finale of the opening weekend of AAC play against the University of Tulsa. Follow the Tigers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @MemphisSoftball to stay up-to-date with news, scores and information about the team.
