March 17, 2007

Box Score

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon Kolditz
wkolditz@memphis.edu, (901) 871-5475

Memphis (17-7, 1-0) 210 004 0 - 7 12 1
UTEP (17-10, 1-3)   011 001 0 - 3  6 1
WP - Kubesch (11-3). LP - Curran (5-8). Save - None.
2B - (MEM) Nance (1)
HR - (UTEP) Townsend (3), Bennett (8), Lombard (6).

EL PASO, Texas. - The University of Memphis softball team opened its Conference USA schedule with a 7-3 victory at UTEP in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday at Helen of Troy Field. The Lady Tigers improve to 17-7 on the season and 1-0 in conference play. Memphis has won a program best six-straight games.

Nine different Lady Tigers recorded hits as Memphis combined for 12 in the game. The 12 team hits are the second highest total this season for the program. Memphis had 16 against Missouri earlier in the season.

Sophomore shortstop Leila Dolfo, sophomore left fielder Leandra Hines and senior first baseman Kara Ross all had two hits in the game. Five different Lady Tigers recorded RBI; including two by senior third baseman Bridgette McNulty who also had a career best six assists from the hot corner. Sophomore second baseman Tori Gross scored the winning run in the game in the sixth, as the Lady Tigers put a four on the board in the inning.

Senior Jenna Kubesch (11-3) earned her 11th victory with a complete game effort. Kubesch allowed three runs on six hits and struck out eight.

The Lady Tigers scored two runs on two hits in the top half of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Dolfo led off the inning with a walk, and after a couple fielder's choice outs, McNulty walked to put runners on first and second. Ross then knocked in the first run of the game on a single to right and sophomore catcher Kimmi Hayden followed with an RBI single to center. Memphis added a third run in the second on a double by Dolfo to score sophomore right fielder Brittany Gooch.

UTEP gained a run back in the bottom of the second when second baseman Stacie Townsend led off the inning with her third home run of the season to left center. Third baseman Amber Bennett added a Miner second solo shot in the third inning to put the Memphis advantage at one.

Kubesch pitched herself out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Miners hit back-to-back singles and then loaded the bases on a hit batter. With one out, Kubesch struck out two in a row to end the scoring threat.

Memphis broke the game open in the top of the sixth with four runs on five hits. Junior Melissa Nance came in to pinch hit with one out and lined a double down the left field line to get the Lady Tigers started. Gooch then hit a sac bunt that got through the infield on an error to score the first run of the inning. Dolfo followed with a single to center and Hines reached on a bunt hit. Kelso then pushed her hitting streak to 12 games with an RBI single. McNulty capped the inning with a two-run single off the glove of the third-baseman.

UTEP hit its third solo home run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning on a dinger hit by shortstop Kelly Lombard to finish the game's scoring.

Memphis and UTEP will finish the day with the second game of the doubleheader before ending the three-game series on Saturday at 12 p.m. (MST).

Notes
• This is the third meeting between Memphis and UTEP. The Tigers swept a two game series in Southaven, Miss., in 2006. Memphis is now 3-0 against the Miners.
• Senior centerfielder Lindsey Pridgen is making a return appearance in El Paso. Pridgen started 54 games as a freshman in UTEP's inaugural season in 2004. She transferred to Pima Community College for her sophomore year before coming to Memphis last season.
• Senior third baseman Bridgette McNulty broke her season high in walks with her 25th free base in the first inning. McNulty had 24 last season and has 25 through 24 games this year, which leads the conference.
• Senior first baseman Kara Ross knocked in her team leading 17th RBI in the first inning to score the first run of the game for the Lady Tigers. Junior Lindsay Kelso scored her team leading 16th run on the play.
• Sophomore catcher Kimmi Hayden hit in her third run of the year on a single to center field in the first inning to score senior Bridgette McNulty.
• Sophomore shortstop Leila Dolfo knocked in her 11th RBI of the season on her team leading ninth double in the top of the second inning to score Brittany Gooch from first.
• Senior third baseman Bridgette McNulty set a new career high in single-game assists with six in the game. Her previous high was five, which she accomplished six times.
• Junior Melissa Nance hit her first double of the season in the sixth inning as a pinch hitter.
• Junior Lindsay Kelso hit in her 14th RBI of the season in the sixth inning and Bridgette McNulty knocked in her 13th and 14th in the same inning.
• Memphis put up its second highest hit total of the season with 12 in the game. The Lady Tigers had a season high 16 against Missouri.