March 25, 2006

Box Score

Game 1 Box Score in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Game 2 Box Score in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Memphis	100 000 0  -  1  7  3
Tulsa	000 301 x  -  4  9  1


Memphis	000 000 0  -  0  1  1
Tulsa	002 010 x  -  3  6  0

TULSA, Okla. - The Memphis softball team managed just one run in a double-header Saturday afternoon in Tulsa and the defense and pitchers made several costly mistakes, as the Lady Tigers dropped 4-1 and 3-0 decisions to the Golden Hurricane.

Memphis got off to a quick start in game one, but saw Tulsa take advantage of three errors in the fourth inning to take command of the game.

In game two, the blunders were on the pitching side, as Jenna Kubesch made two big mistakes that Tulsa leftfielder Brooke Smart turned into a pair of homeruns.

"These were two tough losses to a good team," said Coach Windy Thees. "Hopefully tomorrow we can come out and put some runs on the board and get a win."

Memphis took an early lead in the first game of the day, picking up a run in the top of the first on three hits and a Golden Hurricane error. Kimmi Hayden registered an RBI single to leftfield, scoring Leila Dolfo, who doubled. The Tigers had a chance to do more damage, but missed a big opportunity, leaving the bases loaded.

The U of M had another chance to add to its lead in the third, putting runners on first and second with one out, but Hayden flew out to the wall in leftfield and Melissa Nance struck out to leave Dolfo and Bridgette McNulty stranded.

Tulsa then took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, using four hits and the three Lady Tiger miscues to take a 3-1 advantage. The Golden Hurricane added its last run in the bottom sixth to set the final margin of 4-1.

Memphis put two runners on in the fifth and one on in the seventh, but Tulsa starter Maren Genow prevented further damage to pick up her 11th win of the season.

Nicki Johnson took the loss for the Lady Tigers, working a complete game and allowing nine hits and two earned runs to drop to 7-6 on the season.

Dolfo and McNulty each went 2-for-3 at the plate, with Dolfo picking up single and a double and McNulty adding a pair of one-baggers.

Game two was simply a story of the two big knocks by Smart. The freshman gave Tulsa a 2-0 lead in the third with a two-run shot and later added a solo blast in the fifth to give the Golden Hurricane a 3-0 lead. The homers were Smart's fifth and sixth on the season.

Memphis had few true threats in the game, logging just one hit and five total base-runners. The only real chances to score came in the second inning when McNulty picked up the lone hit with a lead-off single and in the fifth inning when Cara Stiles and Dolfo reached with back-to-back, two out walks.

However, Tulsa's game-two starter, Julie Fennell, kept the Lady Tigers off the board and registered her seventh win of the spring.

Kubesch took the loss in game two, giving up six hits and two earned runs in six innings to drop to 7-4 on the year.

With the pair of losses, Memphis falls to 17-13 on the season and 3-4 in Conference USA, while Tulsa moves to 20-10 overall and 7-1 in the conference.

The Lady Tigers and Golden Hurricane will round out the three-game series Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m.