Tigers Earn Sweep On Opening Day In Comeback Fashion

Friday, February 10

Miami, Fla.

12:30 PM

University of Memphis

1-0

Georgetown

0-1

Georgetown

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Tigers Earn Sweep On Opening Day In Comeback Fashion

Feb 10, 2017 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Memphis rallies in the seventh inning in both games to start off 2-0 for first time in program history

MIAMI, Fla. – The University of Memphis softball team started the 2017 season off with a perfect 2-0 record after rallying in back-to-back games against Georgetown and FIU Friday afternoon. The Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh against the Hoyas to win by a score of 2-1 before overcoming a two-run deficit to defeat FIU by a 3-2 margin.

The wins Friday mark the first time since the program's inception in 2006 that Memphis has started the season 2-0.

Georgetown took the lead over Memphis in the top of the third inning and the score remained 1-0 until the bottom half of the seventh inning. Three Tiger hits capped by Addison Maxwell's RBI single to left field resulted in two runs for the first comeback victory of the day.

FIU strung together a pair of hits and capitalized on a Tiger error to score two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The single to lead off the inning broke up Molly Smith's no-hit bid.

Memphis answered in the top of the fifth after a double by Tyler Johnson scored Maxwell. The Tigers then rallied again with two runs on four hits in the top of the seventh inning. FIU threatened to score in the bottom of the seventh, but a pair of infield outs after a one-out double took away the Panthers chance at a comeback.

Who Stood Out
Christian Novak / P / R-Junior / Nevada, Mo.
Novak pitched a complete game against the Hoyas with seven strikeouts and just two walks allowed. The Nevada, Mo. native allowed just one earned run en route to moving to 1-0 on the year. Novak had just four complete games in 2016.

Molly Smith / P / Junior / Yamhill, Ore.
Smith also pitched a complete game for the Tigers which included three innings of no-hit softball. The two runs scored by FIU were unearned and ultimately allowed just five hits against the Panthers. Smith struck out four in the victory while allowing just one walk.

Addison Maxwell / RF/UT / Junior / Collierville, Tenn.
With two outs and the winning run on third base, Maxwell hit the game-winning single to left field in game one. Maxwell finished the day going 2-for-4 with a team-high two walks and two runs scored.

Tyler Johnson / 3B / Sophomore / Lakewood, Calif.
Johnson finished the day going 3-for-6 from the plate with a team-high three bases. In game two, Johnson drove in two of the three runs including the game-tying run in the top of the seventh inning.

Kyler Trosclair / SS / Junior / Houma, La.
Trosclair went 3-for-6 from the plate with an RBI and a walk. Trosclair drove in what proved to be the game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning against FIU. She also stole a base for the Tigers and finished with three assists at shortstop.

Scoring
Game 1 | Memphis 2, Georgetown 1

Top 3 – A lead-off single by Kane backed by a stolen base put a runner in scoring position with no outs. A double to left with one out scored the runner from second to give Georgetown a 1-0 lead. (1 run, 2, hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base)
Bottom 7 – With two outs, Brooke Lee doubled to right field to get the offense going for Memphis. Erin Parker made her collegiate debut as a pinch runner for Lee and proceeded to score on an RBI single by Tyler Johnson. Johnson ended up at second before the play was over and ultimately stole third during Addison Maxwell's at bat. Maxwell then scored Johnson from third on a walk-off single to left field. (2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base)

Game 2 | Memphis 3, Florida International 2

Bottom 4 – The first two batters of the inning reached base due to a single and an error. With one out, a single to third base scored a runner who advanced to third on an earlier play. A hit by pitch proceeded to load the bases before a fielder's choice play scored the second run of the inning. (2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on base)
Top 5 – Addison Maxwell led off the inning with a walk before advancing to second base on a wild pitch. A double through the left side by Tyler Johnson scored Maxwell to cut the FIU lead down to one. (1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on base)
Top 7 – With one out, Maxwell singled to left field to become the first base runner of the inning. In a pinch-hit situation, Bayleigh Wisher proceeded to single Maxwell over to second to put a runner in scoring position. The third-straight single of the inning belonged to Johnson who scored Maxwell from second, tying the game up. A single through the left side by Kyler Trosclair with two outs scored Johnson from second to give Memphis a 3-2 lead. (2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base).

Quotable – Head Coach Natalie Poole
On the offense…
"Offensively, Addison Maxwell and Tyler Johnson came up in some tough situations and did a good job. Tyler had a couple of clutch hits for us. A couple of people also came off the bench and did what they needed to do by having productive at bats. They may not have gotten on, but they had a good presence and did some things this team needed them to do."

On the work the pitchers did…
"Christian Novak had a great day in the circle and did a good job of working out of some runners on situations. She just buckled down mentally and knows how to be tough in those moments. I was really proud of her and we played good defense behind her. Molly Smith threw a great game, gave up just five hits. She just rolled the whole game and did a good job of spacing those hits out. That's really what we need. We may give up a run an inning, but if we can keep opponents from having back-to-back hits, then we can be successful."

Next Up For The Tigers
Memphis will compete in two games Saturday at the Felsberg Invitational against Georgetown and FIU. First pitch against Georgetown is set for 12:30 p.m. CT with the game against FIU coming immediately after. For more information on the University of Memphis softball team, follow the Tigers on Facebook and Twitter at @MemphisSoftball.