Bats Come Alive In Victory Over UCF

Friday, April 13

Orlando, Fla.

4:30 PM

University of Memphis

30-12, 0

UCF

27-16, 0

Memphis

UCF

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Apr 13, 2018 | Softball

Box Score

Softball takes game one from Knights; win 30th game of the season for just third time in program history

ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Memphis softball team took care of business Friday afternoon by defeating UCF by a score of 8-3 in Orlando, Fla. The Tigers improve to 30-12 on the year and 6-4 in American Athletic Conference play, marking just the third time in program history the Tigers have won at least 30 games in a single season.

Memphis took the lead first in the top of the fourth inning and although UCF tied it in the next half inning, the Tigers never trailed in the contest. After UCF tied up the contest at 1-1 with a solo home run, the Tigers had their first of two big innings with three runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Again, UCF had an answer. This time it was for two runs in the bottom half of the fifth to come within one of Memphis. UCF threatened in the bottom of the sixth, but the Memphis defense combined with Mariah Nichols in the circle got out of the bases loaded jam.

Four runs in the top of the seventh put the game all but out of reach for the Knights. In the bottom of the seventh, Memphis forced UCF into a one-two-three inning en route to its 30^th win of the year.

Molly Smith earned her 18^th victory of the season while Mariah Nichols picked up the save. Three Tigers finished with multiple hits while Baylee Smith led the team with three runs scored.

Tiger Tidbits

Memphis has won 30 games just three times in program history. The last time was the 36-14 squad that earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Baylee Smith, Ashley Threatt, and Addison Maxwell led the Tigers with two hits a piece. All three players recorded two RBIs.
Smith led Memphis with a team-high three runs scored.
The Tigers recorded at least 10 hits in a conference game for the second time this season.
The victory puts Memphis in a tie for second place in the American Athletic Conference.
Delaney Smith also recorded two runs scored. She had a hit and an RBI for Memphis.
The Tigers recorded three doubles, including one by Tyler Johnson who pinch-hit for Erin Parker in the seventh inning.
Memphis is 18-1 when the Tigers score at least four runs in a single inning.

Scoring
Memphis 8, UCF 3

Top 4 – Baylee Smith led off the inning and reached on an error by the centerfielder. A pair of ground outs advanced her to third and she scored on a single through the left side by Addison Maxwell. (1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 left on base)
Bottom 4 – A solo home run tied up the contest at 1-1. (1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base)
Top 5 – A single by Brooke Lee combined with a fielder's choice play by Delaney Smith, the Tigers had runners on first and third with two outs. A double through the right side by Baylee Smith and a single up the middle by Ashley Threatt scored three for Memphis. (3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base)
Bottom 5 – A two-run home run brought UCF within one, 4-3, of Memphis. The leadoff batter reached on a single. (2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on base)
Top 7 – In a pinch-hit situation, Tyler Johnson doubled to leadoff the inning. Johnson's pinch-runner, Erin Parker, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single through the right side by Delaney Smith. Baylee Smith, Threatt, and Kendall Lee proceeded to rally off three-straight hits which led to three runs scoring. The fourth run of the inning scored on a fielder's choice play by Maxwell. (4 runs, 5 hits, 1 error, 2 left on base).

Next Up For The Tigers
Memphis will continue play tomorrow afternoon with a 1 p.m. CT contest against the Knights. Tiger fans can 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.