Feb. 11, 2007

Box Score in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Box Score

For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon Kolditz
wkolditz@memphis.edu, (901) 871-5475

#7 LSU (6-0)	010   001   005  --  7  9  3
Memphis (4-2)	001   001   000  --  2  2  0
2B - (LSU) A. Smith (1, 2). (MEM) B. McNulty (3)
3B - (LSU) L. Klein (1).
HR - (LSU) Q. Duhan (2), K. Hobbs (4). (MEM) H. Mott (4)
WP - D. Hofer (2-0). LP - N. Johnson (2-1). Save - None.

BATON ROUGE, La. - In a pitching duel with No. 7 LSU, the University of Memphis softball team kept battling back before allowing a five run ninth inning to fall 7-2 in the championship game of the Easton Tiger Classic on Sunday at Tiger Park.

The Lady Tigers (4-2) managed only two hits off LSU hurler Dani Hofer in the extra inning thriller, but answered with a run every time LSU (6-0) scored in regulation. Hofer struck out 14 in the game.

LSU took its first one-run lead in the second inning. Quinlan Duhon led off the inning with the game's first hit and was replaced by pinch runner Dee Dee Henderson. Henderson stole second and scored on a two-out double by Andrea Smith.

Memphis then tied the score at one in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, sophomore speedster Leandra Hines laid down a bunt that the third baseman threw away. Hines went all the way to third on the error. With two outs and a two-strike count on sophomore Kimmi Hayden, Hines drew a pickoff throw from the catcher that got away from the third baseman and resulted in a Lady Tiger score.

A leadoff homer in the sixth inning gave LSU its one-run lead back. Duhan led off with her second home run of the season and third-straight hit in the game. However, Memphis freshman shortstop Heather Mott tied the game back up with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth. The home run to deep center is her fourth of the season and third in the day and broke up Hoffer's no-hit attempt.

Memphis threatened to end the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Lady Tigers loaded the bases with two outs after an error and two walks, but was unable to score.

Senior pitcher Nicki Johnson (2-1) pitched well for Memphis through the first eight innings before allowing five runs in the ninth. A walk, a single and a hit batter loaded the bases for LSU with one out. Tayl'r Hollis then drew a walk to bring in a run. Kristen Hobbs then followed with a grand slam, her fourth home run in the tournament. Until the bases clearing homer, LSU had stranded 11 base runners in the game.

Memhis senior pitcher Jenna Kubesch, sophomore Leila Dolfo and freshman shortstop Heather Mott were all named to all-tournament team following the game. LSU's Hobbs was named the tournament MVP.

Memphis will next host its first home game of the season when it brings in Alcorn State for a doubleheader on Valentines Day, Feb. 14. The game will take place at Greenbrook Park in Southaven, Miss., beginning at 2 p.m.

Notes
• This is the second meeting between Memphis and LSU. LSU beat Memphis 3-1 on the first day of the tournament.
• Today's game marks the third time Memphis has played against a top 25 team.
• Sophomore Brittany Gooch started her first game of the season and played right field.
• Freshman Heather Mott broke up a LSU no-hitter with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning with her fourth home run of the season.
• Heather Mott's home run is the first allowed long ball by the LSU pitching staff this season through six games.
• Sophomore Leila Dolfo made her first appearance of the season in the circle, coming into the game in the seventh inning.
• The extra inning game is the fifth for the Memphis program. The Lady Tigers are now 2-3 in extra innings.
• Senior third baseman Bridgette McNulty hit her third double of the season in the eighth inning.
• Senior Jenna Kubish made her first plate appearance of the season as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.
• The nine innings of work for senior pitcher Nicki Johnson is a career high.