March 7, 2010

Box Score |  Notes

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CLEARWATER, Fla. - A two-run homer in the first inning would be all the help Carly Hummel would need as she threw a shutout over Virginia Tech to give the University of Memphis softball team a 2-0 victory on Sunday.

In the final game of the USF Under Armour Invitational, senior Leigh Rowan belted her second home run in as many days to left center to give the Tigers its early 2-0 lead. Memphis (9-6) finished the tournament with a 3-2 record, while Virginia Tech falls to 7-12 and 3-2 in the invitational.

Hummel struck out 10 in the game to record her second career shutout. The freshman threw a three hitter and walked three to improve to 6-2 on the year. It is her second 10 K performance of the season and two strikeouts short of her career high of 12.

Rowan went 2-for-3 in the game and leads the team with four home runs and 13 RBI. Sophomore Lelani Bernardino also had two hits with a run scored and a double in a 2-for-4 performance.

Memphis got off to a hot start in the first inning to take the early lead off Virginia Tech starter Jasmin Harrell (5-3). The Tigers recorded four hits off of Harrell in an inning plus before she was lifted for reliever Kenzie Roark.

Roark held the Tigers scoreless in the final six innings and scattered four hits while striking out six and walking one. Five of the six strikeouts were looking.

Virginia Tech threatened to cut into the Memphis lead in the bottom of the fourth. Whitney Davis led off the inning with the first hit of the game for the Hokies, a single to right field. Kristin Graham then drew a one-out walk to put runners on first and second. After three-straight balls to Kelsey Hensel, Hummel struck her out for the second out and then got pinch hitter Kristen Froehlich to fly out to deep right center.

VT also stranded two runners on base in the sixth inning and had the tying run at the plate in the third, but Hummel was able to pitch out of jams and get the help from the defense when she needed it.

The Tigers recorded hits in every inning but the sixth and out hit the Hokies, 8-3. Virginia Tech left eight runners on base compared to six stranded by Memphis.

Memphis stays in Florida for the next week during spring break and will travel to Jacksonville for a Wednesday doubleheader against North Florida. The Tigers will then open Conference USA play on Friday with a three-game series against UCF in Orlando.