Tigers Close Out Classic With Split of James Madison, Northwestern State

Saturday, March 19

Memphis, Tenn.

2 p.m.

University of Memphis

11-17

James Madison

8-12

James Madison

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Tigers Close Out Classic With Split of James Madison, Northwestern State

Mar 19, 2022 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Tigers picked up another win on the final day of the Tiger Classic, moving them to 3-1 for the weekend after falling 8-7 to JMU and taking the dominating 9-4 win over Northwestern State in the evening game.

Following today's game, Memphis moves to 12-17 overall.

MEMPHIS: 7, JAMES MADISON: 8
How it happened:

The Tigers opened up the game with the early lead after Alyssa Dean doubled down the left field line and brought Hannah Bassham across home plate.
Taylor Smrt would draw a bases loaded walk later in the bottom of the second inning to send Gracie Morton home for the 2-0 lead.
James Madison would add two runs in the top of the third and another two run in the top of the fourth inning to take their first lead of the day at 4-2.
Memphis' offense would take off in the bottom of the fifth starting with an RBI single from Camryn Wineinger that scored Sam Ibison.
Meagan Chism would give the Tigers the 5-4 lead back after she singled up the middle and brought Aliana Zavala and Wineinger around the bases. Hannah Bassham and Gracie Morton would follow it up with back-to-back extra base hits to extend the Memphis lead out to 7-4.
The Dukes would make their comeback in the top of the sixth and seventh innings off RBI hits from Reed Butler to take the 8-7 win.

Notables:

Gracie Morton and Hannah Bassham had quite the stat lines, both going 3-4 from the plate.
Five other Tiger batters recorded hits today while Meagan Chism has a team-high two RBI.
Mikayla Hoschak got the start against the Dukes going 3.1 innings with two strikeouts. Kailey Hilderbrand and Hallie Siems, who got credited for the outcome of the game, both made appearances for Memphis while both recording two strikeouts over the 3.2 innings of work.

MEMPHIS: 6, NORTHWESTERN STATE: 2
How it happened:

The Lady Demons got on the board first, scoring two runs in the top of the third inning to take the 2-0 lead.
Memphis opened up shop in the bottom half of the inning; Kendall Lee cleared the bases with a single up the middle that brought Sam Ibison and Gracie Morton across the plate to tie the game at 2-2.
Taylor Smrt picked up an RBI after she hit a sac fly to left field that allowed Alyssa Dean to tag up and score for Memphis' first lead of the day at 3-2.
Linsey Hargis added to Memphis' scoring frenzy in the third inning when she recorded her first collegiate homerun when she sent a ball over the left-center fence for a three-run shot and extended the Tiger's lead out to 6-2.
Northwestern State cut into the Tiger's lead in the top of the fourth off two scored runs after a run-down at second base with a Lady Demon runner.
Memphis would put the cap on the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when Brianna Lucero, Sam Ibison and Gracie Morton all scored to push the Tiger's lead to 9-4 and lead to the eventual win.

Notables:

Wineinger and Morton both recorded multi-hit games against Northwestern State while Lee and Hargis were responsible for driving in six of the team's nine runs.
Hallie Siems got the start and win in game two of the day going a complete game with eight strikeouts.

UP NEXT

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+.
Memphis will open American Athletic Conference play on Friday when they welcome the Pirates of East Carolina to town for a three-game series.

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.