April 15, 2009

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

For Immediate Release
Contact: Brandon Kolditz
wkolditz@memphis.edu, (901) 871-5475

Game Two
Memphis (20-22)  000 100 0  -  1  4  0
Samford (13-23)  100 010 0  -  2  6  0
W: Royall (8-8) L: Walle (7-9)

Game One
Memphis  000 200 0  -  2  8  0
Samford  001 000 0  -  1  3  0
W: Walle (7-8) L: Barrs (2-12)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Memphis softball team split a pair of 2-1 decisions with Samford on Wednesday at the Bulldog Softball Field.

Junior Vanessa Walle (7-9) took both decisions for Memphis (20-22), pitching 11 innings on the day with two runs allowed on six hits and six strikeouts.

Senior Tori Gross led the team with a 3-for-5 day and a run scored. Gross, freshman Lelani Bernardino and senior Leandra Hines all had a pair of hits in game one's victory. Bernadino knocked in two runs on a double for a 2-1 win in game one.

Memphis earned its second-straight one-run victory and fourth-straight come from behind win in game one.

Both teams threatened early in the game to take the opening lead. Memphis loaded the bases with one out in its first at bat, but Samford's Amanda Barr's struck out the first two of four straight Tigers to get out of the jam.

The Bulldogs made their first threat in the second inning with a leadoff walk followed by a single that ended with runners at second and third and nobody out. Walle pitched out of the jam with two infield plays and a strikeout.

However, Samford came around to score the first run of the game in the third inning. Kylie Harmon led off with a walk and stole second. She came around to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead on a one-out single to right center by Kristy Lawrence.

Memphis scored two runs in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead on a bases loaded double by Bernardino. Freshman Jessica Phillips and Hines hit back-to-back one-out singles followed by a walk to senior Leila Dolfo. Bernardino then hit her seventh double to right center to give the Tigers a lead it never relinquished.

Walle (7-8) no-hit the Bulldogs in the final four innings to earn her seventh victory of the season. The Phoenix, Ariz., native allowed one run on three hits and struck out five.

The Tigers had a combined eight hits off Barrs and relief pitcher Robyn Harmon, who pitched the final three and a third innings. Barrs (2-12) took the loss after allowing two runs on six hits with five strikeouts in three and two-thirds. Memphis left 10 runners on base in the game and had a hit in all but the sixth inning.

In game two, Samford again scored the first run of the game and took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a bases loaded walk to Katie England. Kylie Harmon led off the game with a single but became the second Bulldog caught stealing on the day. Samford then loaded the bases with two outs on a single and two walks. The RBI walk to England was the third walk in the inning by Memphis.

Walle entered the game in relief in the first inning and continued her dominance from game one. She retired the first nine-straight before allowing a single in the fourth inning.

The Tigers tied the game in the fourth on a RBI fielder's choice by sophomore Maddie McKinley to score Gross from third. Memphis loaded the bases in the inning with one out, but failed to take the lead. The U of M left eight runners on base in the game.

Samford took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning behind a leadoff double by Amy Gonzalez. The Tigers got within one out of getting out of the jam, but back-to-back walks loaded the bases and an infield single by Robyn Harmon scored the eventual game-winning run.

Memphis will next play its final conference road series of the season with a three-game set at East Carolina on Saturday and Sunday.