Tigers fall to UIC to conclude FGCU Invitational

Sunday, February 16

Fort Myers, Fla.

9 AM

University of Memphis

UIC

Photo by: Jason Roberts

Feb 16, 2020 | Softball

UIC Box Score

Delaney Smith and Gracie Morton register three hits each

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The University of Memphis softball team concluded the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational Sunday with a 6-5 setback to UIC. The Tigers drop to 5-5 on the year.

Delaney Smith and Gracie Morton led the Tigers offensively with three hits each. Kendall Lee also added a pair of hits for Memphis and an RBI.

The Tigers got on the board first in the top of the third inning. With one out, Delaney Smith registered her first hit of the contest and proceeded to be the first of four straight Memphis hitters to reach base in the inning. Memphis scored on a fielder's choice play by Baylee Smith.

Memphis added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning, including one run scored on Sam Ibison's double to left center. The Tigers tallied four hits in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead against the Flames.

UIC capitalized on several Memphis miscues and a couple of walks to tie the contest at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The remaining of the game was a back and forth affair. Just as Memphis regained the lead in the top half of the fifth inning, UIC responded in the bottom half.

Memphis took its final lead of the contest in the top of the sixth inning. Baylee Smith reached base after one of UIC's four errors and came around to score on a Lee single to left field. The Flames responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the final lead, 6-5.

The Tigers attempted a seventh-inning rally, loading the bases on a hit by pitch and a pair of singles with one out. A pop up and a fly out after UIC made a pitching change ended Memphis' hopes of forcing UIC to hit once again.

The game was plagued with errors as there were nine committed between the two teams. Memphis finished with 11 hits including two doubles. In addition to recording three hits for the Tigers, Morton tallied two of Memphis' three stolen bases on the day. Mariah Nichols was handed the loss with 1.2 innings pitched in relief. Only two of UIC's six runs scored were earned.

Up Next
The Tigers return to action next weekend in Mobile, Alabama for the Mardi Gras Classic hosted by South Alabama. Memphis has five games scheduled, starting with Stephen F. Austin and South Alabama on Friday, Feb. 21. For more information on the Memphis softball team, follow the Tigers on social media at @MemphisSoftball.