Smith Throws No-Hitter In Softball’s Win Over UMBC

Friday, February 23

Lafayette, La.

2 PM

University of Memphis

5-4

UMBC

1-6

Memphis

UMBC

Photo by: Ben Solomon

Smith Throws No-Hitter In Softball’s Win Over UMBC

Feb 23, 2018 | Softball

Box Score

Memphis strings together nine hits in the fifth victory of the year

LAFAYETTE, La. – A complete game, no-hit shutout by senior pitcher Molly Smith propelled the University of Memphis softball team to a 6-0 victory over UMBC in the 32^nd Annual Louisiana Classics Friday afternoon. It's the second no-hitter of the season for Memphis and first complete game no-hitter for Smith. Memphis improves to 5-4 on the year.

"I'm excited for the win today," said head coach Natalie Poole. "I was excited for our presence and determination to come out and execute today. Our focus was high, our energy was high and our production was high."

The Tigers struggled to get the bats going early, but after putting a run on the board in the top of the third, Memphis didn't look back.

In the top of the sixth, Memphis scored five runs on six hits including freshman Riley Walker's first collegiate home run. Walker's pinch hit home run wasn't the only time Memphis capitalized with help off the bench as Kendall Lee ignited the inning with a pinch-hit lead-off single to center.

Smith had the game in control from the start with a pair of UMBC strikeouts. Her only blemishes against the Retrievers were a hit by pitch in the third and a walk in the fourth. She finished with 10 strikeouts in her third win of the year.

Who Stood Out
Molly Smith / P / Senior / Yamhill, Ore.
Smith tossed her first complete game no-hitter against UMBC. She finished with 10 strikeouts, marking the third time this season she's tossed at least 10 K's. Smith allowed just one walk and one hit by pitch for her only blemishes in the 91-pitch performance to improve to 3-1 on the year.

Delaney Smith / OF / Freshman / Dayton, Tenn.
Smith had her second multi-hit game of the season and career-high three stolen bases to help lead the Tigers. Smith also reached base a third time with a walk and she scored one of the five Tiger runs.

Baylee Smith / OF / Freshman / Henderson, Tenn.
Smith recorded her second-straight multi-hit game with two against UMBC. She led the Tigers with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate with an RBI. Her three hits are a career-high.

Riley Walker / INF / Freshman / Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
Walker, in a pinch-hit situation in the sixth, recorded her first collegiate home run to put the Tigers up 4-0 over UMBC. She drove in two runs to lead Memphis.

Scoring
Memphis 6, UMBC 0

Top 3 – With one out, Delaney Smith singled up the middle on a 0-1 pitch. After putting herself in scoring position with a stolen base, Smith scored on a wild pitch. (1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on base)
Top 6 – Kendall Lee led the inning off in a pinch-hit situation and singled to center field. A stolen base by Jessie Lamb (replacing Lee on the bases) and a fielding error on Regan Hadley's hit to left field scored the first run of the inning. Baylee Smith then singled to left to score Hadley. A two-run home run by Riley Walker drove in the third and fourth runs of the inning to give Memphis a 5-0 lead. Ashley Threatt, Delaney Smith, and Kyler Trosclair Klatt strung together back-to-back-to-back hits to score the sixth run. (5 runs, 6 hits, 1 error, 2 left on base)

Next Up For The Tigers
The Tigers have two games on tap Saturday morning, starting with North Florida at 9 a.m. CT. Live stats will be available at www.gotigersgo.com.

Tiger fans can also follow the team's live scoring through the Official Memphis Tigers app by Sidearm, available in both Apple and Android app stores. For more information on the University of Memphis softball team, follow the Tigers on Facebook and Twitter at @MemphisSoftball.