Tigers Drop First Two Games of Conference Play

Saturday, March 25

Memphis, Tenn.

12 p.m.

University of Memphis

5-24, 0-1

Houston

13-16, 1-0

Houston

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Mar 25, 2023 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Tiger softball team dropped their first two games of conference play in a doubleheader to the Houston Cougars. Memphis (5-25) fell 10-0 in the first game of the doubleheader, followed by a 3-0 loss in game two against the Cougars.

"We need to continue to take every opportunity we are given and get better every time we step out on the field," head coach Stephanie VanBrakle Prothro said. "We shot ourselves in the foot a few times today. We showed glimpse of good things, but we have not given ourselves the chance by making mental or physical mistakes on things that we can control."

Houston 10, Memphis 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

•       Aliana Zavala recorded the Tigers first hit in the bottom of the second inning. Zavala would be left stranded at first after two straight outs to end the inning.
•       Houston got on the board first as Hulsey hit a sacrifice fly to center field sending Lorenzo in for the run in to top of the third inning. The Cougars added one more run as Cantu hit a double to right field with Thomas scoring.
•       Sam Ibison reached base on a bouncing drive down the left field line in the bottom of the third inning. Ibison would be left at first to end the inning.
•       Houston struck again in the top of the fourth inning as Robertson smashed the ball over center field for the Cougars' first homerun of the game.
•       Madison Berner reached base on a single to right field before being caught stealing second in the bottom of the fourth inning.
•       The Cougars continued their run scoring six runs on six hits in to the top of the fifth inning, four coming off a grand slam by Coleman.

NOTABLES

•       Hoschak got the start going 5.0 innings and recorded four strikeouts in the five inning game.
•       The Tigers recorded five hits against the Cougars: Ibison (2), Zavala, Berner and Linsey Hargis.

Houston 3, Memphis 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

•       Ibison recorded the first hit of the game, hitting a single to the shortstop in the bottom of the first inning. Ibison would make it all the way to third before being left on base on back-to-back outs.
•       The Tigers came up with a big play in the top of the third inning, holding off the Cougars as Meagan Chism tagged out Lorenzo at home to end the top of the inning.
•       Chism singled to left center in the bottom of the fifth inning. Chism would make it all the way to third base before getting stranded at the end of the inning.
•       Houston struck first as Carden singles through the right side sending Cantu in to score in the top of the sixth inning. The Cougars doubled their lead on their next at bat as Lorenzo singled to center field allowing Matthews to score.
•       Houston's Hulsey hit a single third base and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Tigers in the top of the seventh inning. The Cougars the added to their lead as Cantu hit a single down the right field line sending Hulsey in to score.
•       Berner doubled down the left field line to get on base for the Tigers in the bottom of the seventh inning.

NOTABLES

•       Rylee Dugar got the start going 7.0 innings and recorded two strikeouts in the game.
•       Ibison recorded two difficult diving catches in center field against the Cougars.
•       Memphis recorded four hits by four different players: Ibison, Munford, Berner and Chism.

Up Next

•       The Tigers will finish out the series against Houston on Sunday, March 26, at 12 p.m.

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