Softball Powers to Two Saturday Wins at Chanticleer Challenge

Saturday, March 12

Conway, S.C.

12:15 p.m. (ET)

University of Memphis

10-15

Furman

13-13

MEMPHIS

Furman

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Softball Powers to Two Saturday Wins at Chanticleer Challenge

Mar 12, 2016 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Regan Hadley posts first two college home runs on a 2-0 day.

By: Tammy DeGroff

MEMPHIS – The University of Memphis softball team (11-15) used two home runs from freshman Regan Hadley and a third home run from second baseman Brooke Lee to pick up a pair of wins at the Coastal Carolina Chanticleer Challenge, Saturday. Memphis defeated Furman (13-13), 8-2, in the first game of the day, then downed host Coastal Carolina (9-13), 8-3.

GAME ONE – Memphis 8, Furman 2
               Memphis used a six-run second inning to build a lead they would not surrender in a victory. Memphis, who knocked out 14 hits in the game, opened the inning with a double to right center from Lindsey Stickrod. Lee singled and Tyler Johnson drew a walk to load the bases. Calli Irvin then singled to left field, scoring a pair of runs. With Irvin and Johnson both on base, Hadley hit her first home run of the day, and her first collegiate four-bagger, to make it 5-0 Memphis. After Jessie Lamb and Hannah Harrell got on base, Brittany Seale singled to score the sixth run of the inning off new pitcher Emily Demonte. But Demonte would get out of the inning when Memphis lined in to a double play to end the inning.
               Furman answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third when Candace Johnson recorded a two-run shot to left field. But that would be all the offense the Paladins could generate as Tiger pitcher Molly Smith allowed just two hits in the final four innings to pick up her third win of the season. Smith struck out a season-high nine batters she faced in her fifth complete game of the season.
               Memphis would plate a run in both the fourth and fifth innings for the final eight run Tiger total. Both Hadley and Lee would go 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, while Hadley's four RBI led the team.

GAME TWO – Memphis 8, Coastal Carolina 3
               In game two, Memphis again used a big second inning to build a lead they would not surrender. The Tigers capitalized on two Chanticleer errors to score four runs on three hits. They would push their lead to 7-0 in the third inning when Brooke Lee opened the inning with a solo shot to center field.
               But the home team would answer back in this inning, as Coastal Carolina opened the inning with a double and a single. A groundout to short scored the first run and the second run scored on another double, making it 7-2, Tigers. But Katie Brignac and the Tiger defense got the flyout and ground out to end the inning.
               Brignac then scattered three hits over the next three innings before Hadley stepped to the plate in the top of the seventh with two outs and sent her second home run of the day over the centerfield wall.
               CCU would get that one run back in the bottom of the seventh, but Brignac then got the last two batters on strikeouts, including a looking strikeout to end the game for her second win of the week. Brignac would pitch the complete seven innings, giving up six runs, all earned, while walking one and striking out six.
               Trosclair would go 3-for-5 for Memphis with one RBI and one run scored, while Hadley was 2-for-4 with her second collegiate homer and two RBI.
               Memphis will complete the tournament Sunday against Buffalo at 10 a.m. (ET).