April 28, 2007

Game One Box Score |  Game One Notes
Game Two Box Score |  Game Two Notes

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

Game Two
UAB (29-26, 10-12)     012 000 100 00 - 4  9 2
Memphis (31-23, 6-12)  100 001 200 01 - 5 11 2
Win: Kubesch (20-10). Loss: Nelson (19-14). Save: None
2B: (UAB) Tumlin (7). (MEM) Dolfo (18).
HR: (MEM) Hayden (5).

Game One
UAB      000 001 0 - 1 2 1
Memphis  100 010 X - 2 6 1
Win: Kubesch (19-10). Loss: Nelson (19-13). Save: None
2B: (UAB) Krzan (17). (MEM) Hayden (6).

MEMPHIS - The University of Memphis softball team's back is against the wall, but Saturday at the UM Softball Complex the Tigers (31-23, 6-12) kept their conference tournament hopes alive with a doubleheader sweep over UAB (29-26, 10-12). Memphis won the first game 2-1 and the second 5-4 in 11 innings.

For the U of M to make the six-team Conference USA Tournament, Memphis has no choice but to win. A victory in each of the team's remaining four games guarantees at least a seventh place finish. One loss will eliminate the Tigers mathematically.

Memphis kept the dream alive in dramatic fashion in game two, coming back from a 4-2 deficit in the seventh inning to win 5-4 in the 11th. Jenna Kubesch (20-10) earned her second victory of the day and became the first Memphis 20 game winner after striking out 15 in a combined 10.1 innings.

For a large part of the season, Memphis has struggled putting runners on in front of the team's slugging leader Leila Dolfo. But the Tigers came through with clutch hits from the bottom of the order, allowing Dolfo to knock in three runs. The sophomore shortstop went 3-for-6 in the contest and sent the game into extra innings with a game-tying two run single in the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded in the 11th, Dolfo once again came through with a game-winning RBI single.

Leigh Rowan led the Tigers with a 4-for-5 performance with a run scored and Kimmi Hayden hit in Memphis' first two runs of the game, finishing 2-for-3 with a solo home run.

Nicki Johnson (11-13) started the game for Memphis and matched a season high nine strikeouts in seven and two-thirds innings of work. The senior allowed three earned runs on seven hits and walked three. Memphis pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts in the game, surpassing the program's previous record of 13.

In game one, Kubesch had a no hitter going through five innings. The senior pitched a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts in the Memphis victory.

Kara Ross knocked in both Tiger RBI in the game with a 2-for-3 performance. Memphis scored in the first and fifth innings, compiling six hits in the game.

The two teams will play the final game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. as the Tigers will look for its first conference sweep this season. Live stats and live audio is available for the game with links provided at GoTigersGo.com.