Feb. 27, 2011

Box Score

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PALO ALTO, Calif. - The University of Memphis managed just one hit through the first six innings, but rallied in the top of the 7th to comeback from a 2-0 deficit and earn a 4-3 extra inning victory over Colorado State in the Stanford Nike Invitational on Sunday.

Colorado State (3-11) took a 2-0 lead on two solo home runs by catcher Emily Pohl in the third and fifth innings. Meanwhile, CSU's freshman pitcher Alexa Cash (0-4) held the Tiger bats at bay through the first six frames, allowing just a first inning single by Heather Mott and striking out six.

But Memphis put its rally caps on in the seventh and used four-straight hits to ignite a two-run frame and send the game to extra innings. With the International Tiebreaker Rule in effect, the Tigers added two more runs in the top of the eighth to seal the victory.

Sophomore ace Carly Hummel (8-0) pitched the final two innings in relief and struck out the side in the eighth to pick up her eighth-straight victory. The Tigers also received a quality start from senior Lauren Carley who pitched six innings, scattering seven hits and striking out six.

Memphis improves to 12-3 on the season and finished the tournament 3-1. The Tigers, off to their best start in school history, have won 10 of their last 11 games. Senior third baseman Maddie McKinley led off the top of the seventh with a single to left field. She was followed by a single from junior Jessica Phillips through the left side to advance her to second. Freshman Ashleigh King then drove McKinley home with a single up the middle. Junior second baseman Alyssa Palmieri reached on a bunt single for the third straight hit, and the throw to first sailed into the outfield allowing pinch runner Morgan Mosby to score the tying run.

After Hummel held the Rams scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, Bernardino hit a sac bunt to leadoff the eighth and advance senior Alex Marshall who started off at second to third. Mott then collected her second hit of the game with a single up the middle to score Marshall and give Memphis its first lead. Following a double by McKinley off the left field wall, Phillips drove in the winning run with a sac fly to right that scored Mott from third.

Colorado State scored Morghan Doughty from second in the bottom of the inning on a single by Cassandra Mosser. But the Rams left the tying run at first as Hummel struck out the final two batters and finished with four K's in her two innings of relief.

Memphis will next play in the Bulldog Classic hosted by Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., on March 4-6. The Tigers will face the host twice as well as #21/24 Texas A&M and Mississippi Valley State.