March 28, 2010

Box Score

Box Score

TULSA, Okla. - The University of Memphis came from behind twice, but a seventh-inning home run spoiled a comeback victory as Tulsa took a 5-3 win in the rubber match of a three-game series on Sunday at the Donna J. Hardesty Complex.

Sophomore Lelani Bernardino led the Tigers (15-12, 4-4 C-USA) with a 2-for-3 performance and knocked in two runs with a double in the fifth.

After TU took a 1-0 lead in the second, Memphis tied the game in the top of the third. The Golden Hurricane countered with a home run in the bottom of the inning to regain their one run lead.

The Tigers took their first lead of the game in the top of the fifth on Bernardino's double. But an error in the bottom of the inning knotted the game once again. Kelly Chapman then broke the tie in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run shot to give Tulsa the series win.

Senior Vanessa Walle started the game for the Tigers and pitched 2 1/3 innings. She allowed two runs on three hits and struck out two. Walle was replaced by junior Janelle Valle in the third. Valle allowed one unearned run on one hit in two innings.

Carly Hummel entered the game in the fifth inning with a save opportunity for Memphis, which was up 3-2 at that point. The freshman allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings on one hit, the game-winning home run in the seventh. Hummel falls to 8-6 on the season.

Jackie Lawrence(8-6) pitched a complete game for Tulsa to get the win. Lawrence allowed three runs on five hits and struck out seven.

Tulsa (18-13, 4-2) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with a pair of hits. Vanessa Vice singled down the left field line to lead off the inning for the first hit in the game. A sac bunt moved her to second allowing Jessica Stoelke to knock her in with a single up the middle.

Memphis tied the game at one in the top of the third with a pair of hits and an error. Jessica Phillips recorded the first hit of the game for the Tigers with a one-out single to left. Bernardino later hit a two-out single through the right side that got past the right fielder and allowed Phillips to score from first.

The Golden Hurricane's right fielder Lauren Lindsay redeemed herself in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to give Tulsa back it's one-run lead.

Bernardino gave Memphis its only lead in the game with a two-run double in the fifth inning. Alex Marshall led off the inning with an infield single. An error at second base on a ball hit by Kailey Kassner put runners on first and second with one out. Bernardino then doubled to right center to score both runs with her fourth double of the season. She was thrown out at third on the play trying to stretch it into a triple.

But Tulsa came right back to tie the game at three in the bottom of the inning. Caitlin Everett hit a one-out single up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Samantha Cobb then hit a high pop up in the infield that the wind created havoc on. The ball was dropped at third and Everett, who was running with two outs, scored on the play.

Two innings later, Lauren Menke led off the seventh with a walk and scored the game-winner on Chapman's home run.

Memphis will next host a doubleheader with Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday at the Tiger Softball Complex at 4 and 6 p.m.