Feb. 26, 2010

Box Score

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SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Errors plagued the University of Memphis softball team in a 6-1 loss to North Dakota State on Friday at the UCSB Gaucho Classic.

The Tigers (6-4) allowed the six runs on five errors and did not allow a hit until the fourth inning. Three of the runs were unearned.

Senior Vanessa Walle (3-2) suffered the loss after giving up three earned runs on three hits in three and two-third innings. Walle struck out four and walked five.

The Bison's Whitney Johnson (6-3) allowed two hits to the Tigers and struck out seven in the game.

Senior Leigh Rowan and junior Kailey Kassner had the only two hits in the game for Memphis. Rowan finished the day with a four-hit performance in the two games, and Kassner knocked in the only run for Memphis against NDSU with a RBI single in the seventh inning.

The Tigers went 1-1 in their first day at the tournament host by UC Santa Barbara. The Tigers beat Drexel, 5-2, in the first game on a three-run walk-off homer by Rowan.

NDSU (8-5) scored the first run of the game in the second inning after two Memphis errors. Taylor Lynn began the inning with a walk and advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt by Brea Konz was thrown into the dugout. She then scored on a two-out fielding error to short.

The Bison increased the lead to two with a two-out, four-base error on a bunt by Lynn to third base.

In the bottom of the fourth, North Dakota State put the game out of reach with four runs on three hits to lead 6-0. Nicole Rivera had the first NDSU hit of the game in the inning, with a line-drive single off the glove of the pitcher. Taylor Mortensen and Lynn both had RBI in the inning.

The Tigers scored its only run in the game in the seventh inning. Maddie McKinley reached second on a two-base throwing error with two outs. She then came around to score on Kassner's RBI single to left field.

Junior Lauren Carley pitched the final two and a third innings for Memphis and allowed no runs on two hits with one strikeout.

Memphis will continue the tournament on Saturday with a neutral match-up against Drexel (3-5). The game is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. (PST).