March 13, 2010

Box Score |  Notes

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ORLANDO, Fla. - For the eighth time in the series history between the University of Memphis and UCF, the game was decided by a single run. The Tigers (11-7, 1-0) edged the Knights (13-10, 0-1), 1-0, in the Conference USA opener for both schools in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

After a scoreless five innings to start the game for both teams, Memphis scored the only run in the game in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Maddie McKinley to score Alex Marshall from third.

Vanessa Walle and Lauren Carley combined for the third shutout of the season for Memphis in the five-hitter. Walle started the game in the circle and held UCF scoreless through the first four and a third innings. She struck out one and scattered four hits.

Carley (1-0) pitched the final two and two-thirds in relief to earn her first victory of the season. She allowed one hit and struck out one.

Ashleigh Cole (9-5) suffered the loss for UCF after giving up one run on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

McKinley and Leigh Rowan both had two hits each in the game to lead Memphis. Nikki Moreno was the only Tiger to record a hit in the game with a pinch hit single in the seventh inning.

Walle pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, UCF loaded the bases on two-straight infield fielding errors and an infield single. But Walle got Tiffany Lane to strike out swinging to end the threat.

The Tigers put together their first scoring threat in the top of the fourth. Rowan and McKinley hit back-to-back one-out singles, which was followed by a groundout to pitcher by Walle to advance the runners to second and third. Cole then got Jessica Phillips to strikeout to end the inning.

Memphis scored the first run of the game in the top of the sixth inning. After a leadoff walk to Keanah Prestridge, Rowan and McKinley hit back-to-back singles for the second time in the game to score the run. McKinley's singled down the right field line scored pinch runner Alex Marshall from third. The U of M left runners on second and third to end the inning.

Memphis and UCF close out the series with the second game of the doubleheader. The first game of the series was rained out on Friday.