Softball registers split at South Alabama Saturday

Saturday, February 22

Mobile, Ala.

12:15 PM

University of Memphis

Jacksonville

Photo by: Jason Roberts

Feb 22, 2020 | Softball

Tigers wrap up the tournament Sunday against Jacksonville

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of Memphis softball team picked up another split Saturday afternoon, falling to Jacksonville in game one by a score of 1-0 before topping South Alabama by a score of 7-4. Memphis moves to 7-7 on the year.

Game One (Jacksonville 1, Memphis 0)
Game one in Mobile proved to be a true pitcher's duel as there were 10 combined strikeouts, only six combined hits, and only two walks allowed. Neither team registered a hit until the third inning. Jacksonville ended the no hitter in the top of the third and Kendall Lee was the owner of a single up the middle to leadoff Memphis' bottom half of the inning.

The game remained scoreless until Jacksonville strung together a pair of hits and a sacrifice bunt in the top of the fifth inning to score the only run of the contest.

Memphis led the fifth inning off with a double to center field by Baylee Smith, but Smith was stranded at second.

Mariah Nichols threw a complete game for Memphis, striking out five while allowing four hits and a walk. Brady Rowland drew the only Memphis walk of the contest.

Game Two (Memphis 7, South Alabama 4)
Memphis started off strong, scoring in the top of the first inning as Rowland drove in Delaney Smith. Smith reached with a single through the right side for her first hit of the game.

South Alabama responded in the first to tie it up, but Memphis had another answer in the second. Lee led the inning off by reaching on a fielding error and promptly scored on a double to center field by freshman Meagan Chism. Chism scored on the next play, another defensive miscue by the Jaguars.

The Jaguars had another answer in the third, tying up the contest with two runs. South Alabama strung together three hits including a home run to center field to even the contest.

The tie didn't last long as Memphis scored three in the top of the fourth inning. The Tigers recorded five hits in the inning, including the first at bats with Chism, Alyssa Dean and Sam Ibison. Gracie Morton registered two RBI in the inning with a single through the right side.

South Alabama added one in the fifth while Memphis scored another in the sixth to once again take a three-run lead.

Karli Perque picked up the win while Nichols earned her third save of the season. Memphis' pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts while allowing just three walks. Five hitters registered two hits each for Memphis.

Up Next:
The Tigers conclude the Mardi Gras Classic tomorrow with a 10 a.m. contest against Jacksonville. For more information on the Memphis softball team, follow the Tigers on social media at @MemphisSoftball.