March 25, 2007

Box Score

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

Houston (25-11, 8-1)  032 055 - 15 14 0
Memphis (18-11, 2-4)  000 030 -  3  3 4
W - Shamblin (16-5). L - Johnson (7-6). Save - None.
2B - (HOU) Bush (2), Durham (8)
HR - (HOU) Nordstrom (6), Raley (3), Shamblin 2 (3)
     (MEM) Hayden (2)

MEMPHIS - Houston capitalized on a couple pitching mistakes early as the Cougars took an early lead over the University of Memphis softball team with the home run ball on Sunday at the UM Softball Complex. The Lady Tigers (18-11, 2-4 C-USA) gave up four homers in the rubber game of the series, falling 15-3 in game three to Houston (25-11, 8-1).

"We missed on a couple pitches early and got down," said Memphis head coach Windy Thees. "They didn't miss on our mistakes and were able to hit them out. When you get down like that, it's really hard for your team to focus. We need to do a better job at that because we lost our focus after going down."

After striking out 16 in game one of the series, Houston pitcher Angel Shamblin (16-5) looked to her hitting to help pick up her 16th win of the season. Shamblin knocked in six RBI in the game with two three-run home runs. The junior also struck out five and allowed one hit in four innings of work.

Shamblin had a no-hitter going into the bottom of the fifth with Houston leading 10-0. But sophomore Kimmi Hayden broke up the no-no with a solo shot to left field to knock Shamblin out of the game. The homer was Hayden's second in two-days off Shamblin. Hayden hit the first homer ever at the Lady Tigers' new softball stadium on Saturday.

"I really wasn't trying to hit a home run," Hayden said. "I was just trying to be a part of the team. I was in a slump for the first part of the season and was just trying to help out my team by getting some runs on the board."

Senior Nicki Johnson (7-6) took the loss, giving up five runs on four hits in three innings. Senior Jenna Kubesch and sophomore Lyndsey Sterling also saw time in the circle.

Houston went up 5-0 after a three-run shot in the second by Shamblin and a two-run homer in the third by Elaina Nordstrom. The Cougars then put five more runs on the board in the top of the fifth on four hits, including a two-run single by Laura Durham and a Shamblin's second three-run shot.

After Hayden's solo shot to begin the fifth inning, the Cougars got two quick outs and threatened to end the game with a nine-run lead. But walks to sophomores Leigh Rowan and Leila Dolfo and a single by sophomore Brittany Gooch loaded the bases for the Lady Tigers. Senior Bridgette McNulty then hit a pinch hit two-run single to take away the eight-run rule in the inning. Junior Lindsay Kelso drew a walk to load the bases again, but Houston pitched out of the jam with no further runs scored.

The Cougars scored five more runs in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Katie Bush and a three-run homer by Christa Raley to eight-run rule the Lady Tigers.

Memphis will host a midweek doubleheader against UT-Martin on Wednesday beginning at 5 p.m. at the UM Softball Complex. The Lady Tigers will then travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to take on Southern Miss in a three-game series beginning Saturday.