April 9, 2006

Box Score

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Southern Miss    000 100 000 1 - 2 5 2
Memphis          000 100 000 0 - 1 7 2

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - A day after throwing a no-hitter to lead Memphis to a game-one win over Southern Miss, Jenna Kubesch posted another stellar effort in the circle Sunday against Southern Miss, but it would not be enough, as the Lady Tigers dropped a 2-1 heart-breaker in 10 innings.

As was the case in the first game of the series, Kubesch and USM starter Lacey Gros locked up in a pitcher's duel from the onset. However, unlike in Saturday's game, the Lady Tiger offense was not able to break through on Gros, who held the U of M to one run on seven hits.

The Golden Eagle bats were not much more successful against Kubesch, but managed a run in the fourth and added the game-winner in the top of the 10th to claim their lone win of the series.

"Jenna threw another tremendous game," said Coach Windy Thees. "I just hate that it had to end the way it did."

Memphis had several chances to take the lead early, putting two runners on in both the first and third innings, while leaving five stranded in the first three frames.

The Lady Tigers then saw Southern Miss take a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth, with Charity Butler picking up the Golden Eagles' first hit of the series off Kubesch, before scoring on an infield single by Jennifer Fox.

Memphis, however, came right back to tie the game in the bottom half of the fourth. The U of M loaded the bases on walks to Laura Mahoney and Tori Gross and a single by Cara Stiles, then knotted the score at one when Mahoney scored on a walk to Leila Dolfo.

The contest remained deadlocked for the next five frames, with Kubesch and Gros allowing just two hits apiece in the fifth thru ninth innings.

Southern Miss reclaimed the lead in the top of the tenth when Nicole Chisolm reached on a fielder's choice, stole a base and scored an unearned run on a single to centerfield by Melissa Prouty.

The Lady Tigers mounted a rally in their half of the tenth, with Kimmi Hayden reaching on a fielder's choice and Gross doubling to put runners on second and third with one out. The U of M was not able to take advantage, however, as Gros recorded a pair of strikeouts to preserve the 2-1 win for the Golden Eagles. "Southern Miss is a great team at the top of our conference," said Thees. "Their freshman pitcher (Lacey Gros) kept us off balance all day, and we just couldn't find an answer."

Gros took the win in the circle, working the full ten innings and striking out 10 Lady Tigers to move to 12-11 on the season.

Kubesch received the loss, also working the complete ten innings and fanning 10, while allowing the two runs - one earned - on five hits to fall to 8-6 on the season.

Bridgette McNulty, who was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and Stiles, who was 2-for-4, also with a pair of one-baggers, led the way at the plate for the Lady Tigers.

Despite the Sunday's loss, Memphis picked up its second C-USA series win of the season to move to 20-18 on the spring and 5-6 in league play. Southern Miss goes to 22-26 overall and 8-4 in the conference.

The U of M will be back in action Wednesday at Greenbrook Park when it hosts Middle Tennessee in a double-header at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The next conference games for Memphis will be next Friday and Saturday against UCF in Orlando, Fla.