Softball bounces back and finishes day with 1-1 record

Friday, February 14

Fort Myers, Fla.

11:15 AM

University of Memphis

UIC

Photo by: Courtney Metzger

Softball bounces back and finishes day with 1-1 record

Feb 14, 2020 | Softball

UIC Box Score FGCU Box Score

Tigers fell to UIC before defeating FGCU in night cap

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The University of Memphis softball team finished with a 1-1 record Friday with a victory against FGCU and a setback to UIC. Both contests came down to the seventh inning as Memphis moves to 4-3 on the young season.

Game One
After retiring in order to start the contest, the Memphis offense came alive in the second inning. Brady Rowland led the inning off with her first of three walks in the game to ignite the offense. Rowland's pinch runner, Hannah Bassham, came around to score during the next at bat as Delaney Smith tripled to left field.

The Tigers took advantage of a fielding error and maintained composure at the plate to draw a bases-loaded walk, building a 3-0 lead against UIC.

UIC chipped away at the Memphis lead, scoring a run in the third, fourth and fifth inning, tying the game at 3-3. The Tigers regained the lead in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Delaney Smith. Camryn Wineinger led the inning off with a pinch hit single and came around to third on a double by Gracie Morton.

The Flames responded, however, in the bottom of the seventh inning. The first two UIC hitters of the inning reached base by way of a walk and a single before Memphis was able to get the first out of the inning. A wild pitch combined with an RBI single scored two runs to take the game away from Memphis.

Delaney Smith led Memphis with two hits and two RBI while Rowland drew three walks. Kailey Hilderbrand was dealt the loss against the Flames.

Game Two
Memphis jumped out first once again with three runs scored in the top of the second inning against Florida Gulf Coast. Sara Ann Davidson recorded her first hit of the day with a one-out single to center field. Davidson ignited three-straight hits by the Tigers, capped with a two-RBI double by Baylee Smith.

Sam Ibison registered an RBI single to shortstop, scoring Baylee Smith for the third Memphis run of the game.

FGCU answered in the bottom half of the second, capitalizing on the first Memphis error of the tournament. A strikeout by Chyanne Ellett minimalized the damage to one run for the Eagles.

The Eagles scored one more in the bottom of the sixth inning and threatened to score more. With the bases loaded and one out, Mariah Nichols stepped up in a big way and retired back-to-back hitters with swinging strikeouts.

Memphis held off FGCU once again in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Eagles' leadoff hitter reached base and she quickly found her way to third with a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt. The Tigers were quick on their feet during the next at bat when she attempted to score on a grounder to shortstop. Ibison made the play to keep the score in favor of Memphis, 3-2.

Chyanne Ellett improved to 3-1 on the year with the victory while Nichols registered her second save. Ibison and Baylee Smith recorded two hits each for the Tigers.

Up Next
Memphis returns to action Saturday at 11:15 a.m. CT against Furman. For more information on the Memphis softball team, follow the Tigers on social media at @MemphisSoftball.