Softball splits on day one of UofM Softball Tournament

Friday, March 6

Memphis, Tenn.

11:30 AM

University of Memphis

Western Carolina

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Softball splits on day one of UofM Softball Tournament

Mar 06, 2020 | Softball

Sam Ibison led Memphis with a .625 batting average Friday

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis softball team opened the UofM Softball Tournament with a split, taking game one against Western Carolina by a score of 9-1 before falling in game two to Indiana State by a 13-5 margin. Memphis moves to 12-9 on the year.

Game One
Memphis got on the board early after Brady Rowland laid down an RBI sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the first inning. Rowland brought in Sam Ibison, who made her way around to third prior to Rowland's at bat. Ibison led the game off with her 29^th hit of the season.

The bats came alive in the second as the Tigers plated four runs on four hits. With runners on second and third with one out, Memphis strung together three-straight hits by Sara Ann Davidson, Ibison and Delaney Smith to drive in the four runs.

Memphis added one in the third and two in the fourth to build an 8-0 lead against the Catamounts. Rowland launched her team-leading fourth home run in the fourth inning.

Western Carolina broke up Chyanne Ellett's no-hitter bid in the fifth and added a run to force the game beyond five innings.

Gracie Morton, with Ibison on base, doubled off the wall in right center to drive in the eighth run of the game. Morton's double was her team-leading ninth of the season.

Ellett earned the victory in 4.0 innings pitched. She improved to 7-2 on the year after striking out five and allowing one hit. Ibison fell a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. Two of her hits were off the wall in right field.

Game Two
Indiana State put up a crooked number in the top of the first inning, quickly building a 4-0 lead against the Tigers. Memphis responded with one in the bottom half of the inning as Ibison scored on a wild pitch.

The Sycamores added one in the second, third and fifth innings and two in the top of the fourth to build a lead against Memphis.

In the bottom of the third inning, three runs crossed the plate to cut the Indiana State lead down to two, 6-4. Meagan Chism capped the inning off with a single to left, driving in two runs.

The two-run deficit after three innings proved to be the closest Memphis came for the remainder of the contest. Indiana State added four insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a grand slam.

Mariah Nichols was handed the setback against the Indiana State. Ibison led Memphis with two hits while Chism drove in a team-high two runs.

Up Next
Memphis resumes play Saturday evening against Butler at 6:30 p.m. For more information on the Memphis softball team, follow the Tigers on social media at @MemphisSoftball.