Tigers take doubleheader against Youngstown State

Tuesday, March 10

Memphis, Tenn.

2 PM

University of Memphis

Youngstown State

Photo by: Maya Todd

Mar 10, 2020 | Softball

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis softball team picked up a pair of victories Tuesday afternoon against Youngstown State by scores of 8-2 and 2-1 at the Tigers Softball Complex. The Tigers improve to 16-9 overall with the Tiger Classic coming up this weekend.

Game One (Memphis 8, Youngstown State 2)
Much like she has all season, Sam Ibison led the game off with a single up the middle to ignite the Memphis bats. After moving over to second on a sacrifice bunt, Ibison scored on a triple by Gracie Morton. Morton tripled over the head of Youngstown State's left fielder for her 15^th extra base hit of the season.

The Tigers finished with three runs in the first before adding two runs in the bottom of the third. Morton notched her second of three extra base hits in the contest with a double to left field. Baylee Smith recorded a sacrifice fly later in the inning, scoring Morton for the second run of the third.

A solo shot by Baylee Smith in the fifth lifted Memphis to a 6-0 advantage.

Youngstown State earned two back in the top of the sixth, cutting the Memphis lead down to four. Chyanne Ellett's no-hit bid was broken up in the sixth as the Penguins recorded back-to-back hits, capped with a two-run shot to left center field. Ellett proceeded to retire Youngstown State in order including two strikeouts.

Another double by Morton in the bottom of the sixth scored two, erasing the damage done in the sixth by Youngstown State.

Ellett finished with a career-high 11 strikeouts and improved to 9-2 after the complete game. Morton finished with a career-high four RBI and three extra base hits. Delaney Smith and Morton each scored a team-high two runs in the victory.

Game Two (Memphis 2, Youngstown State 1)
The second game remained scoreless through the first two innings before Memphis got on the board in the third. A leadoff walk by Sara Ann Davidson sparked Memphis into two runs, propelled by heads up base running by the Tigers. Baylee Smith registered a single up the middle in the inning, driving in the second run of the game.

Prior to the two runs scored in the third, catcher Ashten Graves threw out the first base runner of her career.

The two runs scored in the bottom of the third inning proved to be the only time Memphis scored in the game. The Penguins threatened in the top of the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out. Karli Perque came in relief for the Tigers and struck out two of the final three hitters to get out of the jam.

Mariah Nichols improved to 4-5 on the year after throwing 6.1 innings for Memphis with five strikeouts. Perque recorded her third save of the season.

Up Next
Memphis returns to action this weekend in the Tiger Classic. Game one of the weekend for the Tigers is slated for 3 p.m. Friday afternoon at the Tigers Softball Complex. For more information on the Memphis softball team, follow the Tigers on social media at @MemphisSoftball.