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Memphis Rallies to Top Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 7-5
Feb. 8, 2013
AUSTIN, Texas - Trailing 5-4 in the fifth inning, the Tigers (1-1) drove in three runs and held Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (0-2) scoreless the rest of the game to earn a 7-5 win Friday afternoon in Austin. The Islanders struck in the first inning with a single to right field from Mickayla Cochran. After an illegal pitch from Memphis, Cochran came around to score off a double from Megan McKinney to put TAMUCC up 1-0 heading to the bottom of the first. After struggling in the first game of the day, Memphis' offense came alive as center fielder Lelani Bernardino tripled to left center to lead off for the Tigers. Second baseman Morgan Mosby followed with a single to right field to bring home Bernardino and knot the game at one-all. Shortstop Laura Curtis got in on the action by laying down a bunt to put runners on first and second with no outs before designated hitter Kelly Braman reached on a fielder's choice by tapping down a bunt. Curtis scored on the following play as first baseman Libby Goranson reached first after a throwing error by the Islanders' second baseman to make it 2-1 Memphis. The Tigers offense was far from being done as pinch runner Wheeler Hill stole second to put her and Braman in scoring position. Third baseman Cierra Mangum laid down a bunt and advanced to second on the throw while Braman and Hill came home to score and push Memphis' advantage 4-1 after one inning of play. In the third inning, the Islanders knotted up the game at four with a three-run homer from McKinney. Cochran led off the inning with a full-count walk followed by a single from Dani Tefft to set up McKinney's three-run bomb. In the fourth, TAMUCC got the lead back as Lindsey Lyles led off with a walk for the Islanders. Hayley Galloway then bunted Lyles over to second before an error by the Memphis infield, allowed Lyles to score and help TAMUCC take a 5-4 lead. The Islanders threatened again in the fifth as Valerie Perez singled to center field to begin the inning. With two outs, Lyles reached first on a walk before Galloway singled to load the bases. However, the Tigers escaped the inning with a fly out to left field to keep the score at 5-4. In the bottom of the fifth, Memphis got the offense going again as Mosby reached on a fielder's choice before Curtis doubled to left field to put runners in scoring position. Braman then drew a walk to load the bases with one out. The Tigers regained the lead on an Islanders' throwing error at home to score Curtis and Mosby and give Memphis a 6-5 advantage. Third baseman Mangum kept the momentum going with an infield single before Lindahl reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases once again. Pinch hitter Georgeanna Goodwin came in to her first collegiate game to draw a walk that brought home Goranson and pushed the Tigers' lead to 7-5 after five innings. The Islanders attempted a late rally in the sixth as Cochran reached on a throwing error followed by a single from Tefft. With two outs, Jamise Jackson drew a walk to load the bases for TAMUCC. However, Tefft would be called out for an interference to end the inning for the Islanders. Memphis held the Islanders scoreless in the seventh as Ellen Roberts came in and allowed just one hit in the final two innings of play to pick up the save. Sophomore pitcher Sara Pearson earned the win for the Tigers while TAMUCC's Ashley Elicerio took the loss. Bernardino and Curtis led Memphis with two hits apiece while Curtis also scored twice to lead the team. Memphis will continue play at the Texas Classic tomorrow with a 1 p.m. contest against No. 7/9 Texas. The game will be televised on the Longhorn Network. Game Notes
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Memphis Tigers
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