Hot Hitting Propels Tigers to Wins Over James Madison, ETSU

Friday, March 18

Memphis, Tenn.

4 p.m.

University of Memphis

10-16

James Madison

6-12

James Madison

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Hot Hitting Propels Tigers to Wins Over James Madison, ETSU

Mar 18, 2022 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – While the Memphis offense got off to a hot start against nationally ranked Tennessee, the Volunteer's hot hitting overtook the Tiger's start and handed them the 8-4 loss.

Following today's game, Memphis moves to 11-16 overall.

MEMPHIS: 6, JAMES MADISON: 2
How it happened:

Memphis got on the board in the bottom of the second inning when Gracie Morton hit a two-RBI double into center field that scored Meagan Chism and Linsey Hargis.
After Alyssa Dean and Kendall Lee reached base to load them up, Taylor Smrt hit her second homerun of the season for a grand slam over the left field fence to make it a 6-0 Tiger advantage.
The Dukes would load the bases twice in the top of the third inning, but the Memphis defense held steady, recording back-to-back force outs from Kendall Lee to hold JMU scoreless.
James Madison would notch runs on the board in the top of the fifth inning off an RBI double form Kylee Gleason and an error from the Tigers.
While the Memphis offense would not record any more runs, their 6-2 lead was enough to hold off the former Final Four Women's College World Series participants for the win.

Notables:

Kendall Lee and Alyssa Dean led the team with three and two hits, respectively, while Taylor Smrt hit the team's fifth homerun of the season.
Hallie Siems picked up her sixth win of the season going a complete 7.0 innings with four strikeouts.

MEMPHIS: 9, ETSU: 4
How it happened:

The Tigers scored first in their second game of the day when Alyssa Dean drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the second inning to give Memphis the 1-0 lead.
Kendall Lee would break open the Tiger advantage with a bases clearing double to deep center field to score Dean, Gracie Morton and Dafne Mercado.
Memphis would add another run in the bottom of the third inning when Mercado hit a ball into left-center field that would allow Camryn Wineinger to score all the way from first to push the Tiger's lead out to 5-0.
Alyssa Dean continued with the scoring fun after a solo shot over the left field fence to open the bottom of the fourth inning to make it a 6-0 Memphis lead.
Wineinger picked up an RBI later in the inning when she ripped a hit to left field that sent Taylor Smrt across the plate for the 7-0 lead.
ETSU would add two runs in the top of the fifth inning off a double from Kelly Warren to cut into their deficit.
Dean and Lee drove in two more runs in the bottom half of the fifth off a single to the pitcher and a sac fly, respectively, to extend their lead back out to 9-2.
ETSU would add two more runs in the top of the sixth inning, but the Memphis lead was enough for them to escape with the 9-4 win.

Notables:

Morton, Dean and Wineinger all recorded two hits each while seven other Tiger hitters reached base.
Mikayla Hoschak got the start and win for game two going the entire 7.0 innings with seven strikeouts and just two walks.

UP NEXT

Memphis continues play in the Tiger Classic on Saturday. They will play host to James Madison and Northwestern State at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
The Tigers will continue their March home stand when they welcome the Bulldogs of Mississippi State. Coverage of the game can be found on ESPN+.

How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Softball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.