May 2, 2010

Box Score

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The game had the makings of a classic pitching duel from the start. Two of the top freshman in Conference USA were pitted against each other in the rubber match of a three-game series. It was Memphis RHP freshman Carly Hummel (14-9) who threw a three-hitter in a 4-1 victory against UAB on Saturday battling Blazer's RHP freshman Lauren Webster who threw a three-hitter in a 5-2 UAB victory in game two.

And just as advertised, the game went down to the very end with UAB beating the University of Memphis, 1-0, in eight innings to take the series 2-1 on Sunday at the UAB Softball Field.

Hummel was nearly unhittable through the first seven innings, allowing just two hits in regulation. Both hits came from UAB left fielder Caley Walden.

With Hummel in control on the mound, the Tigers were looking to squeeze across one run. Memphis stranded runners on third in both the second and third innings and then had the biggest scoring opportunity by either team in the top of the seventh.

After a one-out walk to Keanah Prestridge, Alyssa Palmieri advanced pinch runner Shanna Brown to second on a sac bunt. Lelani Bernardino then hit a two-out single to shallow left field. Brown was waved the entire way from second, but the throw from Walden in left, despite being a little off the mark, allowed catcher Mandy Lowman to apply the tag on the standing Brown for the third out at home.

The Tigers 2-3-4 hitters were retired in order in the top of the eighth, marking just the second time in the game Memphis went down in order.

UAB had the top of the order due up in the bottom of the inning, and Martina Landrum hit a deep fly ball to center field. Despite the wind blowing in to right field for most of the game, the ball carried and hit the top of the fence in straight-away center. It bounced back in to play, giving Landrum a stand-up double instead of a walk-off home run.

Walden then followed with her third hit of the game with an infield single to Hummel, and then Cameron Skates was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs. Lowman followed with a walk-off single through the left side to give UAB the 1-0 victory.

Bernardino led the Tigers with a 2-for-3 performance. Memphis had six hits in the game.

Hummel struck out five in the loss and earned her 200th strikeout of the season in the third inning. She is only the second Memphis player to record 200 K's in a season and the third pitcher to record 200 in a career. Jenna Kubesch holds the school season record with 243 strikeouts in 2007.

Amber Torres (6-2) earned the victory in relief for UAB. Torres allowed no runs on two hits in the final four innings with three strikeouts. Webster allowed no runs on four hits with a strikeout in the first four innings.

Memphis will next conclude the regular season with a three-game home series with East Carolina on May 8 and 9. The final game of the series on Sunday, May 9, will be senior day. Leigh Rowan and Vanessa Walle will be honored before the game.

The Tigers will then compete in the C-USA Championship tournament on May 13-15 in Houston, Texas.

Game Notes: Maddie McKinley increased her hitting streak to a career high eight games with a single in the first inning. The hitting streak is the second highest of the season for Memphis ... Carly Hummel became the second Memphis pitcher to record 200 strikeouts in a season. Hummel recorded her 200th K in the third inning and had five strikeouts in the game. Jenna Kubesch holds the season school record with 243 strikeouts in 2007 ... Heather Mott increased her hitting streak to a career best and team season high 10 games with a single in the sixth inning ... Lelani Bernardino had her 12th multi hit game of the season and second in the series with UAB. It is her 25th multi hit game of her career ... Memphis is now 3-3 this season in extra inning games.