April 4, 2007

Box Score

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

Memphis (23-12) 002 000 0 - 2 10 1
MTSU (18-21)    000 001 0 - 1 5 3
Win - Johnson (9-7) Loss - Vander Lugt (13-14) Save - None.
2B - (MEM) Pridgen (5) (MTSU) Stiner (8), McLure (2)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - For the fourth time in five meetings, one run decided the outcome between the University of Memphis softball team and Middle Tennessee. The Lady Tigers had the advantage on the day, sweeping the doubleheader with a 2-1 victory over the Blue Raiders in the second game on Wednesday night at Blue Raider Field.

Senior Nicki Johnson (9-7) earned her ninth victory of the season, allowing one unearned run on five hits with six strikeouts. Johnson held the Blue Raiders scoreless through the first five innings.

The Lady Tigers improve to 23-12 on the season and swept its three game season series with MTSU after beating them 1-0 earlier in the year at the Easton Tiger Classic in Baton Rouge, La. Middle Tennessee falls to 18-21 on the year.

Memphis scored the first two runs of the game in the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. Leila Dolfo led off the inning with her second single of the game. Lindsay Kelso and Bridgette McNulty then hit back-to-back one-out singles to load the bases. With two out, Kimmi Hayden delivered a two-run single to right-center to score Dolfo and Kelso.

Middle Tennessee closed the Memphis lead to one with an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Caitlin McLure led off the inning with an infield hit and then advanced to second on a throwing error. A sacrifice bunt moved McLure to third allowing her to score on a groundout by Martha Davis.

Memphis will next host last year's Conference USA Tournament champion Tulsa in a three-game series beginning Friday at 5 p.m. at the new UM Softball Complex on the Park Avenue Campus. The Lady Tigers will have a stadium opening ceremony before the third game of the series on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The first 250 fans receive a commemorative souvenir ticket. Normal ticket prices apply.

Notes
• Leila Dolfo had her 10th multi-hit game of the season, tying her with Kara Ross for the team lead. It is her second-straight multi-hit game.

• Bridgette McNulty had her sixth multi-hit game and fourth-straight. She is 9-for-12 in the last four games.

• Kimmi Hayden had her second multi-RBI game of the season with a two-run single in the fourth inning. She now has 12 RBI on the season and three on the day.

• Memphis had its fourth-straight 10+ hit game and 10th of the season. The Lady Tigers have put together 45 hits in the last four games.

• Kimmi Hayden had her second game-winning RBI of the season with her two-run single in the third inning. Lindsay Kelso scored her third game-winning run.

• Memphis is now 17-1 when scoring the first run of the game.

• This is the fourth game in five meeting that one run decided the outcome between Memphis and Middle Tennessee.

• Memphis is now 9-0 this season against Tennessee schools.

• Memphis swept its schedule with MTSU this season, winning all three games. Memphis is 4-1 all-time against the Blue Raiders.