Softball defeats South Alabama, falls to Stephen F. Austin at Mardi Gras Classic

Friday, February 21

Mobile, Ala.

1:30 PM

University of Memphis

Stephen F. Austin

Photo by: Jason Roberts

Softball defeats South Alabama, falls to Stephen F. Austin at Mardi Gras Classic

Feb 21, 2020 | Softball

Stephen F. Austin Box Score South Alabama Box Score

Ibison leads Memphis with four hits in two games, Morton drives in team-leading four runs

MOBILE, Ala. – After dropping the first game of the day to Stephen F. Austin by a score of 8-5, the University of Memphis softball team salvaged a split Friday evening with a 6-3 victory against host South Alabama. The Tigers are 6-6 overall with three games remaining at the Mardi Gras Classic.

Game One
Memphis took an early 1-0 lead after the first inning, capitalizing on four walks by the visiting Ladyjacks. Kendall Lee registered the RBI in the inning by drawing a bases-loaded walk.

The Tigers maintained their lead through the second before the flood gates opened for SFA. The Ladyjacks put up seven runs in the third, taking a 7-1 lead against Memphis.

Memphis cut into SFA's lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs with three hits produced in the inning. Baylee Smith ignited the Memphis offense in the fourth, leading off with a double to center field. Sam Ibison and Alyssa Dean also recorded a hit in the inning for Memphis.

Three runs were as close as Memphis would come to SFA for the remainder of the contest. SFA tacked on one more in the sixth before Memphis attempted a comeback in the seventh. Lee led the inning off with a double to right field before scoring on Smith's triple to right. A pair of strikeouts and a pop-up ended Memphis' chances at a comeback in game one.

Karli Perque was handed the loss after putting in 2.0 innings of work. Ibison and Smith led the Tigers with two hits each.

Game Two
In the contest against the host Jaguars, Memphis put up two on the board in the first to take another early lead. Ibison led off the game with an infield single and came around to score on Gracie Morton's first double of the game. The Tigers loaded the bases for Sara Ann Davidson, who drew a five-pitch walk to bring in the second run of the contest.

South Alabama scored one run in the first and two in the second to take the lead away from the Tigers. Memphis responded in the third, scoring another run on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Lee.

Memphis scored three in the fourth to take the final lead of the contest. Morton drove in the game-winning run, Delaney Smith, with her second double of the contest.

In the fifth inning, freshman pitcher Chyanne Ellett came in relief of Mariah Nichols after Nichols put in 4.0 innings of work with four strikeouts. The Jaguars put their first two hitters on base in the fifth, but Ellett got out of the jam by forcing a pop out and registering two strikeouts to the next three hitters.

Ellett pitched three scoreless innings and earned her first collegiate save while Nichols picked up her first victory of the season. The duo combined for 10 strikeouts against the Jaguars.

Up Next
Memphis returns to action Saturday, beginning at 12:15 p.m. CT against Jacksonville. For the full tournament schedule, click here. For more information on the Memphis softball team, follow the Tigers on social media at @MemphisSoftball.