March 10, 2010

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Senior Vanessa Walle put on a one-person show in a 7-1 University of Memphis victory in game two of a doubleheader with North Florida on Wednesday.

Walle (4-4) knocked in a career high five RBI in a 2-for-4 performance beginning with a grand slam in the third inning. She also struck out a career best seven batters and allowed one unearned run on three hits for her fourth victory of the season.

Memphis (10-7) split the doubleheader with UNF (8-14) after dropping the first game 3-2.

Walle had four hits in the two games. Maddie McKinley knocked in her second run of the day with a solo home run in the sixth inning.

Shaina Dent (1-7) took the loss for the Ospreys after allowing four runs on three hits in three innings of work. She combined with Devyn Findley to strike out 13 in the game. Findley K'd eight batters in four innings and allowed three runs on four hits.

Walle gave the Tigers a 4-0 lead with a two-out grand slam to left field in the third inning. The home run is the first of the season for the senior and third of her career. It is the third grand slam in Memphis history and the first since Melissa Nance hit one against Alcorn State on April 15, 2008. Nance had two in her three-year career.

The Tigers loaded the bases on a single by Lelani Bernardino and walks to Keanah Prestridge and Leigh Rowan. After a fielder's choice by McKinley recorded the second out at home, Walle delivered her third hit of the day.

North Florida gained one run back in the bottom of the inning. After a two-base throwing error by the shortstop, Britanie Block hit a double down the left field line to score Alyson Bailey from second. The Ospreys stranded the bases loaded in the inning.

McKinley knocked in the fifth run of the game for Memphis in the top of the sixth inning with a leadoff home run to left. The homer is the first of the year for the junior third baseman and seventh of her career.

Memphis added to its lead in the seventh inning with two more runs. After a fielding error by the third baseman allowed pinch hitter Nikki Moreno to reach first, freshman Morgan Mosby laced her first collegiate hit to right center to score Kim Sirman.

A walk to Prestridge and a single by Rowan loaded the bases with two outs allowing Walle to add her fifth RBI of the game with a single up the middle.

The Tigers will next travel to Orlando, Fla., to begin Conference USA play with a three-game series at UCF. The two teams will play a single game on Friday at 5:30 p.m. (EST) and close with a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 and 2 p.m.