Raising the Bar: Smith Becomes Career Strikeout Leader in Shutout Over Tulsa

Saturday, April 28

Memphis, Tenn.

2 PM

University of Memphis

36-16, 10-7

Tulsa

27-22, 7-10

Tulsa

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Raising the Bar: Smith Becomes Career Strikeout Leader in Shutout Over Tulsa

Apr 28, 2018 | Softball

Box Score

Smith and the Tigers reached multiple milestones in Saturday’s victory

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It was a thrilling afternoon at the Tigers Softball Complex as the University of Memphis softball team defeated Tulsa in game two of the series by a score of 3-0. Not only did Molly Smith break the strikeout record set by Ellen Roberts in 2014, but Smith and the Tigers achieved many other milestones Saturday afternoon.

The victory lifted the Tigers to 36-16 overall and 10-7 in American Athletic Conference play, a win total that matches the all-time record set during the 2007 and 2011 seasons. Smith also registered her 24^th victory of the season, which matches Jenna Kubesch's single-season record set in 2007. Smith's 489^th strikeout proved to be her 211^th this season, which is a mark that moved her up to sole possession of second on the single-season strikeout list.

Smith's third straight shutout was highlighted with five strikeouts and just three hits allowed. She allowed just one extra base hit and had a defense that posted a clean game behind her.

Memphis scored one run in each of the first three innings to take the early lead over the visiting Golden Hurricane. In the first and the third innings, Ashley Threatt was responsible for driving in Delaney Smith with a pair of singles through the right side. Smith reached base in the first with her fourth triple of the year.

Rebeca Melton added to the Tigers lead in the second with a solo home run to left center field. It was Melton's first home run of the year and second in her career.

The victory Saturday also marked just the second time in program history the Tigers have won a series over Tulsa. Memphis looks for its first sweep over the Golden Hurricane Sunday afternoon.

Tiger Tidbits

Molly Smith became the all-time strikeout leader at the University of Memphis in the top of the sixth inning. She broke Ellen Roberts' record of 488 strikeouts. She is also just 32 strikeouts shy of matching the single-season record of 243.
Memphis improved to 36-16 on the year, matching the single-season wins record set in 2007 and 2011.
Molly Smith also has matched the single-season wins record with 24.
Rebeca Melton hit her first home run this season in the bottom of the second inning. She has two career bombs for the Tigers.
Ashley Threatt had her ninth multi-hit game of the season and seventh multi-RBI game. She drove in Delaney Smith in the first and the third inning.
Delaney Smith hit her fourth triple of the season in the bottom of the first inning. She also finished with two hits, marking the 14^th multi-hit game of the season for Smith.
Delaney Smith also recorded her conference-leading 29^th stolen base in the third inning.
Memphis has now won 10 conference games for the first time since 2011. This is only the fourth time in program history the Tigers have won at least 10 conference games in a year.
As a team, Memphis has 428 hits to-date, a total that matches the 2017 total. Two more hits and the Tigers will tie the single-season hits record set in 2007.

Scoring
Memphis 3, Tulsa 0
Bottom 1 – Delaney Smith hit a one-out triple to left field and scored on a single through the right side by Ashley Threatt. (1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base)
Bottom 2 – Rebeca Melton hit her first home run of the season, a solo shot, to left center field. (1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on base)
Bottom 3 – Although a strikeout was credited to Tulsa's pitcher, Delaney Smith reached on a passed ball by the Tulsa catcher. She stole second base and scored again on a single through the right side by Threatt. (1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on base)

Next Up For The Tigers
Memphis will conclude its three-game series against Tulsa at 12 p.m. Sunday afternoon. The Tigers will honor their seniors approximately 20 minutes prior to first pitch.

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.