Feb. 23, 2007

Box Score

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

MSVC (2-10)    000 200 0 - 2 3 1
Memphis (6-5)  051 101 x - 8 9 0
2B: (MSVC) McFadden (3)
HR: (MEM) Dolfo (1), McNulty (1)
W: Johnson (3-3). L: Stouder (0-4). Save: None.

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - A five-run second inning helped the University of Memphis softball team cruise to an 8-2 victory over Mississippi Valley State in the opening game of the Blues City Classic at Greenbrook Park on Friday.

The Lady Tigers open their home schedule with the victory and improve to 6-5 on the season while MVSC falls to 2-10.

Sophomore utility Leila Dolfo knocked in the game-winning run with a three-run homer in the second to cap the five-run inning. Four of the runs were scored with two outs. Dolfo's home run to left-center is her first of the season after she hit five in 2006.

Junior first baseman Melissa Nance and sophomore outfielder Brittany Gooch both led the team with two hits. In her second start of the season, Gooch went 2-for-2 and scored three runs with an RBI. Junior catcher Lindsay Kelso knocked in two RBI and senior third baseman Bridgette McNulty hit her first home run of the season and scored two runs.

Senior Memphis pitcher Nicki Johnson (3-3) pitched all seven innings for her third win of the season. Johnson struck out nine batters and two runs off three hits. Johnson retired the first nine MVSC hitters to begin the game before allowing an infield hit to lead off the fourth inning.

The Develettes scored both their runs in the fourth as the team strung together all three of their hits. Natasha McFadden hit her third double of the season to drive in a run and Megan Hays hit an RBI single in the inning. Johnson then retired the final 10 batters to end the game.

Memphis led off the second inning with a walk to McNulty. A sacrifice bunt from senior Kara Ross and a passed ball moved McNulty to third, allowing Nance to knock in a run with an RBI single up the middle. Sophomore second baseman Tori Gross then singled and was followed by an RBI bunt single from Gooch. Dolfo ended the inning with her three-run long ball.

The Lady Tigers scored single runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings. McNulty hit her solo blast to right-center with one out in the third. Gooch scored the seventh run in the fourth inning on a ground ball hit by Kelso. The final Memphis run was scored in the sixth inning on another ground ball by Kelso to score Gooch who had reached base on a pinch hit single from freshman Leigh Rowan.

Memphis plays Southeast Missouri (0-0) in the second game of the Blues City Classic on Friday. The Lady Tigers will

Notes
• Freshman shortstop Heather Mott will miss the remainder of the season after breaking her leg in practice.
• This is the first meeting between Memphis and Mississippi Valley State.
• Leila Dolfo hit her first game-winning RBI of the season with her first home run of the year. It was the first three-run home run for Memphis this season.
• Tori Gross scored her first game-winning run of the year.
• Bridgette McNulty hit her first home run of the season.
• Brittany Gooch tied the Memphis single game steals record with three.
• Bridgette McNulty tied the Memphis single game walks record with three.
• Memphis stole a team single game record seven bases in the game.
• Brittany Gooch scored a career high three runs and had career highs in stolen bases (3), hits (2), RBI (1) and total bases (2).
• Nicki Johnson retired the first nine batters in order. She then had a shaky fourth, but retired the final 10 straight batters to end the game. She recorded a season high nine strikeouts.
• Bridgette McNulty set career highs in walks (3) and stolen bases (2).