April 4, 2007

Box Score

Game One Box Score in PDF Format
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon Kolditz
wkolditz@memphis.edu, (901) 871-5475

Memphis (22-12) 000 128 - 11 13 0
MTSU (18-20)    000 020 -  2  8 3
Win - Kubesch (14-5) Loss - Floyd (4-6) Save - None.
HR - (MEM) McNulty (5)
2B - (MEM) Gross (1) (MTSU) Stiner (7)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - An eight-run sixth inning propelled the University of Memphis softball team to an 11-2 victory in the first game of a doubleheader against Middle Tennessee on Wednesday at Blue Raider Field.

Memphis put together six hits and MTSU made two fielding errors in a sixth inning where the Lady Tigers sent 12 batters to the plate. With the bases loaded, sophomore second baseman Tori Gross capped the inning with her third hit of the game, a double to left field to clear the bases. The hit is the first for extra bases by the San Diego native.

U of M head coach Windy Thees picked up her 50th career victory at Memphis with the win as the Lady Tigers improved to 22-12 on the season. Thees is now 213-130 (.621) in her seven year career and 50-38 through two seasons at Memphis.

Senior Jenna Kubesch (14-5) earned her 14th victory of the season, scattering eight hits and striking out five in a complete game effort. The 14 victories is a Memphis record surpassing Kubesch's 13 victories in 2006.

Senior third baseman Bridgette McNulty put the Lady Tigers on the board first with a lined solo shot over the centerfield fence to lead off the fourth inning. Memphis then scored two more runs in the top of the fifth with three singles to take a 3-0 lead. Sophomore shortstop Leila Dolfo led off the inning with a single to left and was replaced on base by sophomore left fielder Leandra Hines, who grounded into a fielder's choice. McNulty then reached on her second base hit of the game to put runners on first and second. Both runners scored on a single to the right-center wall by senior first baseman Kara Ross.

The Blue Raiders scored two runs to come within one of the Lady Tigers in the bottom of the fifth inning. Three singles in the inning, including a two-run base hit by Martha Davis gave MTSU its only runs of the game.

Gross got things started for Memphis in the sixth inning with a one-out single. She was followed by three-straight singles from sophomore right fielder Brittany Gooch, Dolfo and freshman pinch hitter Leigh Rowan, who knocked in Gross for the first run of the inning. McNulty then walked in a run with the bases loaded and two outs before a fielding error on a hit by Ross kept the inning going. Sophomore catcher Kimmi Hayden and Gross also had RBI in the inning.

Middle Tennessee threatened to score in the bottom of the sixth with two straight hits to begin the inning, including a double by Shelby Stiner. With two outs and runners at second and third, Corrie Able hit a lined shot that looked like it was going through the left side, but Dolfo snagged the hit for the third out.

Notes
• Bridgette McNulty hit her fifth home run to lead off the fourth inning on a lined shot over the centerfield fence. The RBI is her 20th of the season and her 19th run. She is now tied for the team lead in home runs with Leila Dolfo.

• McNulty had her third-straight multi hit game of the season with a home run and single in the game. It is her fifth overall on the season. She is 7-for-9 in the last three games.

• Kara Ross had her team leading sixth multi-RBI game with a two-run single off the right-center wall. She leads the team with 24 RBI. The runs scored Leandra Hines (17th run) and Bridgette McNulty (20th run).

• Leila Dolfo had her ninth multi-hit game with two singles.

• Tori Gross led the team with three hits, including her first double of the year. The double scored three runs. The three hits are a career high for Gross and the three RBI are a season high and match her best total from 2006.

• Kara Ross had her fifth winning RBI in the game, knocking in the winning run in the fifth inning. Bridgette McNulty scored the winning run, her second of the season.

• Jenna Kubesch won her 14th game of the season, a Memphis record. Kubesch led the Lady Tigers in victories in 2006 with 13.

• This is the first game between Memphis and Middle Tennessee that wasn't decided by just a run. The first three games between the two schools were decided by a run.

• This is the third-straight game Memphis has went into double digits in hits. The Lady Tigers have nine 10+ hit games this season.

• Memphis is now 16-1 when scoring the first run of the game.

• Memphis is now 8-0 against Tennessee teams this season.

• The win is the 50th victory for Windy Thees at Memphis. Thees is now 213-130 overall and 50-38 at Memphis.