April 5, 2009
Box Score
Box Score 
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon Kolditz
wkolditz@memphis.edu; (901) 871-5475
Memphis (16-21, 2-10) 001 010 1 - 3 4 2
Marshall (19-10, 7-2) 121 000 x - 4 5 0
W: Mitchell (8-2) L: Walle (5-8) SV: Murphree (2)
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The University of Memphis softball team put the tying run on base in the seventh inning, but fell just short in it's comeback effort against Marshall University on Sunday, falling 4-3 at Dot Hicks Field.
Down by two entering their final at bat, freshman Kamri Chester scored for the Tigers on a fielder's choice RBI by freshman Lelani Bernardino. But Marshall's Kate Murphree struck out senior Leila Dolfo to end the game and earn her second-straight save.
Marshall (19-10, 7-2) earned the series sweep for the third-straight season as Memphis (16-21, 2-10) struck out nine times for the third-straight game. All nine K's were looking.
Memphis had an opportunity to take a first inning lead, but a rare double play ended the threat for Marshall. Bernardino led off with a hit by pitch and advanced to third on a passed ball and a wild pitch. After a one-out walk to senior Tori Gross, Leigh Rowan hit a soft ground ball to the pitcher, Caitlyn Jackson. Jackson caught Bernardino in a rundown between third and home and then put out Gross between second and third for the double play.
In the bottom of the inning, Marshall scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Melanie Stoehr. The fly ball was hit to shallow left that senior Leandra Hines made a sliding catch, but couldn't recover in time to make a play at home on Alianna Telles.
The Thundering Herd scored two more runs in the bottom of the second inning on a passed ball and another sacrifice fly. Marshall loaded the bases with no outs on a pair of hit by pitches and a single. Marcena Bertoldo scored the first run in the inning on a passed ball that got away from Memphis catcher Nikki Moreno and advanced all three runners. Pinch hitter Rachel Schmidt then hit a fly ball to shallow center field to score Rachael Sofie from third on the sac fly.
Memphis scored one run in the top of the third inning, but threatened to score more. Moreno led off the inning with the Tigers' first hit of the game, a double to right center. After a sac bunt by Hines advanced the runner to third, Bernardino hit a line drive right at the centerfielder, J.J. Bitner, who fired it home taking away any sacrifice fly attempt.
Back-to-back walks to Dolfo and Gross loaded the bases for Memphis with two outs and forced a MU pitching change. Marshall brought in Autumn Mitchell who threw a wild pitch that allowed everyone to advance and scored pinch runner Kim Sirman. Rowan then hit a soft grounder down the left field line that third baseman Kelly Nielson's throw barely beat Rowan to third for the final out in the inning.
Marshall regained its three-run lead in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a bunt single by Bertoldo. The Tigers limited the damage with a double play on a line drive to Dolfo at short that was thrown to third to catch pinch runner Samantha Spurlock off base.
Dolfo knocked in the Tigers' second run of the game in the fifth inning to bring Memphis within two. Hines led off the inning with a hit by pitch and stole her 10th base of the season. After a infield ground ball by Bernardino moved Hines to third, Dolfo hit her fifth double of the season to left center to score the run.
The Tigers hit back-to-back singles to lead off the seventh inning on hits by Chester and sophomore Kailey Kassner.
Junior Vanessa Walle (5-8) suffered the loss after starting the game and pitching into the second inning. Walle allowed three runs, one earned, on two hits. Sophomore Kimber Bossom pitched the final five innings and allowed one run on three hits with two strikeouts.
Mitchell (8-2) earned the victory, pitching three and a third innings in relief and allowing two runs on two hits with four K's.
Memphis will next host a three-game conference series against Houston on Friday and Saturday at the Tiger Softball Complex.
