Softball Opening Home Stand Tuesday

Tuesday, March 1

Memphis, Tenn.

5 p.m.

University of Memphis

Jackson State

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Feb 29, 2016 | Softball

Tigers hosting Jackson State at 5 p.m.

By: Tammy DeGroff

MEMPHIS – The University of Memphis softball team (4-10) will open its 2016 home stand with a pair of non-conference games, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, Memphis will have a rematch against Jackson State, a team they just beat 15-2 at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic this past weekend. On Wednesday, the Tigers will face Wright State. Both games will be played at 5 p.m. at the Tiger Softball Complex on the Park Avenue Campus. Admission is free for all Memphis softball home games.

Memphis is looking to build on momentum from last weekend, when the Tigers went 3-1 in four games.

"It's good to even be just practicing at home," Head Coach Natalie Poole said. "We got back at 4 a.m., Sunday, so it's kind of been a grind on the road."

On Monday, junior catcher/designated hitter Brittany Seale earned a spot on the American Athletic Conference weekly honor roll after hitting .545 in 11 at-bats, scoring four runs with six hits and three RBI. She is the second Tiger in three weeks to earn a spot on the weekly honor roll, joining fellow junior college transfer Lindsey Stickrod from week one. Last weekend, Stickrod hit .462 with 3 RBI and three doubles.

Freshman outfielder Jessie Lamb also had a solid weekend in Mississippi. The freshman hit .444 and led Memphis with four runs scored and drew a team-high five walks. She also added two stolen bases while making her first four starts of the season in the outfield.

"I feel like last year, if we had scored even five runs in a game, we were in great shape offensively," Head Coach Natalie Poole said. "We've always had the speed, we just didn't have the power to go with it. This year, I think our offense has been strong. If we can just get established early in the circle and get out front first, we kind of have an idea what to expect from these two games."

In the circle, freshmen Adriana Morgan and Bayleigh Wisher both went 1-0 with two appearances and two starts last weekend, while Molly Smith came in for Morgan against Mississippi Valley State and struck out eight and picked up a win in five innings.

On Tuesday, Memphis will open its home schedule with a rematch against Jackson State. Memphis beat JSU on Friday, 15-2.

"JSU has team speed and has a lot of lefties in the lineup," Poole said. "But we've seen them and kind of feel like we know what to expect."

On Wednesday, the Tigers will host Wright State, a new opponent for the Tigers.

"We have some information on Wright State that we will try to use for our game," Poole said. "Really for both of these games, we just need to come out and put some pressure on and try to force errors."