Feb. 24, 2010
Week Three Updated Release 
UCSB Gaucho Classic Tournament Page
Santa Barbara, Calif. - The University of Memphis softball team (5-3) travels to California to compete in the UCSB Gaucho Classic hosted by UC Santa Barbara. The four-day tournament also features Drexel, Wisconsin and North Dakota State.
The Tigers will open the tournament on Friday against Drexel (1-3) at 1 p.m. (PST) followed by 2009 NCAA Super Regional participant, North Dakota State (5-5), at 3:15 p.m. On Saturday, the U of M will again compete against Drexel at 8:30 a.m., and then will close the tournament on Sunday by playing Wisconsin (3-7) at 9 a.m. and UCSB (4-7) at 11:30 a.m.
There are no complimentary tickets or pass lists for the tournament. All Session passes are available from UC Santa Barbara for $25 adults, $15 seniors and $15 youth. Single day prices are available for $10 adults, $5 seniors and $5 youth.
History: Memphis vs. UCSB Gaucho Classic Field
The Tigers have a history against two of the four teams in this week's tournament. Last year, Memphis lost to Drexel at the K-Club Classic in Kennesaw, Ga., 4-1. In the school's inaugural season in 2006, the Tigers dropped a 1-0 contest to North Dakota State in North Carolina. Memphis has a 0-1 all-time record against teams from the Colonial Athletic Association, an 0-2 record against teams from the Summit League, an 0-3 record against teams from the Big Ten and a 1-1 record against teams from the Big West.
Live Coverage
All five games in the UCSB Gaucho Classic can be followed through live stats provided by CBS College Sports GameTracker. Additionally a live audio broadcast is also available for the game against UC Santa Barbara on Sunday provided by KCSB, the student radio station at UCSB. Links to the live broadcasts can be found on the softball schedule page at GoTigersGo.com.
Five Tigers Return Home
The Tigers have five players on their roster that will be returning to their home state this week to compete in the UCSB Gaucho Classic in Santa Barbara, Calif. Sophomore outfielder Lelani Bernardino (Valencia, Calif.,/Valencia HS), freshman pitcher Carly Hummel (Bakersfield, Calif./Ridgeview HS), freshman third baseman Cheyenne Mascarenas (Garden Grove, Calif./Pacifica HS), sophomore catcher Nikki Moreno (Tracy, Calif./Tracy HS) and junior pitcher Janelle Valle (Lake Elsinore, Calif./Temescal Canyon HS) all are products of California.
2010 UCSB Gaucho Classic Schedule
Thursday, February 25, 2010
9 a.m. UCSB vs. Drexel
11:30 a.m. UCSB vs. North Dakota State
2 p.m. Drexel vs. North Dakota State
Friday, February 26, 2010
8:30 a.m. UCSB vs. Wisconsin
10:45 a.m. Drexel vs. Wisconsin
1 p.m. Drexel vs. Memphis
3:15 p.m. North Dakota State vs. Memphis
Saturday, February 27, 2010
8:30 a.m. Memphis vs. Drexel
10:45 a.m. Wisconsin vs. North Dakota State
1 p.m. UCSB vs. North Dakota State
3:15 p.m. UCSB vs. Wisconsin
Sunday, February 28, 2010
9 a.m. Wisconsin vs. Memphis
11:30 a.m. UCSB vs. Memphis
Home team is bolded. All Games Pacific Time
Tigers Sweep Belmont
Memphis swept a midweek doubleheader at home against Belmont on Tuesday, winning 7-0 and 12-4 in five innings. Freshman Carly Hummel came one out from a no hitter in game one. The Tigers scored 12 runs on three hits in game two for the run-rule victory.
Last Week
Memphis tied for second in the fourth annual Blues City Classic with a 2-2 record. The Tigers tied with Appalachian State (3-2) and SEMO (2-2) behind tournament champion McNeese State (4-1). IPFW (1-3) and Indiana State (1-3) tied for fifth place. The U of M opened with a 5-2 comeback victory in game one against Appalachian State, but then fell 1-0 to IPFW on a seventh inning walk-off home run. On the second day of the tournament, Memphis again lost a 1-0 decision, falling to Indiana State. In the final day of the tournament, the Tigers became the only team to beat tournament champion McNeese State with a 2-1 victory. Memphis tied the game at one with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and then scored the winning run in the eighth on a throwing error.
Next Up
Memphis will travel to Florida for nine days during spring break. The Tigers will begin the trip by competing in the USF Under Armour Invitational in Tampa, Fla., in a 26-team field. Memphis will play Rutgers, Jacksonville, Loyola-Chicago, Fordham and Virginia Tech in the tournament.
Hummel Just Misses No No
In only her third career start, Carly Hummel came up just short in an attempt for a no-hitter against Belmont. The freshman was one strike away before Erin Gier knocked the Bruins first hit of the game over third base in the top of the seventh inning after fouling off several pitches. Hummel finished the one-hit shutout with nine K's and one walk. Only three Belmont players reached base in the game. Hummel's complete game-one hitter is the first for Memphis since Kimber Bossom one-hit Arkansas-Pine Bluff last year in a 15-2 victory. Hummel is 2-2 on the season with a 1.46 ERA, 36 strikeouts and a .127 opponent batting average.
Career Triple Leaders
With a two-run triple against Belmont, junior shortstop Heather Mott moved into sole possession of first base in the school's career triples category with six. Mott moved ahead of Leila Dolfo's five triples from 2006-09. Freshman outfielder Lelani Bernardino is ranked third on the list with three in her two years at Memphis.
1. 6 - Heather Mott (2007-10)
2. 5 - Leila Dolfo (2006-09)
3. 3 - Lelani Bernardino (2009-10)
4. 2 - Leandra Hines (2006-09)
Career Home Run Leaders
With a towering home run onto the track behind left field against Belmont, junior shortstop Heather Mott moved into sole possession of third place on the Tigers' all-time home run list with 13. Mott moved ahead of Lindsay Kelso's (2007-08) 12. Senior Leigh Rowan and junior Kailey Kassner are both tied for seventh on the list with 10.
1. 30 - Leila Dolfo (2006-09)
2. 20 - Bridgette McNulty (2006-07)
3. 13 - Heather Mott (2007-10)
4. 12 - Lindsay Kelso (2007-08)
5. 11 - Melissa Nance (2006-08)
11 - Tori Gross (2006-09)
7. 10 - Leigh Rowan (2007-10)
10 - Kailey Kassner (2008-10)
Tigers Against Instate Opponents
After sweeping Belmont at home, Memphis is now 22-10 all-time against opponents from the state of Tennessee and 11-3 all-time against those schools at home. Memphis will play a total of four schools from Tennessee this season, with all but one coming as midweek doubleheaders at home. The Tigers will host Belmont, Middle Tennessee and Tennessee State and play on the road at UT Martin in 2010.
Hummel and Walle Named to All-Tournament Team
Freshman Carly Hummel and senior Vanessa Walle were both named to the Blues City Classic All-Tournament team. Hummel finished the tournament with a 1-1 record and had 15 strikeouts in 10 innings with three hits allowed. She sported a 0.70 ERA and a .100 opponent batting average. Walle went 1-1 with seven strikeouts in 14.1 innings of work. She had a 0.98 tournament ERA and a .188 opponent batting average.
Tigers Tie for Second at Blues City Classic
For the third time, Memphis finished tied for second in the Blues City Classic with a 2-2 record. The Tigers were the only team to beat tournament champion McNeese State (4-1) and also defeated Appalachian State (3-2). Both games the Tigers lost were 1-0 shutouts.
Close Calls
Eight games into the season, Memphis has already been involved in three games decided by a run and five by three runs or less. The Tigers are 1-2 in one-run games this year and 2-3 in games decided by three runs or less.
Defending the Plate
Junior college transfer Keanah Prestridge is proving to be a great addition for the Tigers behind the plate this season. Several times already this season, Prestridge has made diving defensive catches on pop ups in foul territory. Against McNeese State, Prestridge stepped it up and recorded four assists, a rare feat for catchers. She tied a school record with two runners thrown out in the game, one at second and one coming at third at a crucial spot in extra innings. Prestridge has thrown out three runners this season from behind the plate.
Senior Stepping Up Big Time
Senior Vanessa Walle has been impressive thus far in the 2010 season in the circle. Walle leads the team with a 1.29 ERA and has allowed just four walks in 21.2 innings of work. Opponents are batting .189 against here and have just one extra base hit. She is 3-1 on the year.
Defense Wins Ball Games
The Tigers lead Conference USA in highest fielding percentage with a .974 mark. Memphis is second in the league in fielding double plays with five and forced McNeese State to ground into two double plays in the U of M's 2-1 extra-inning victory. Highlighting the defense so far this season was a over the back diving catch in center field by junior Kim Sirman against Indiana State. ISU's Stephanie Robinson hit a line drive to straight away center that looked like it would get over the head of Sirman. But Sirman, running straight for the fence, made a diving catch and then doubled up Alyssa Doyle who was nearly to third base from first.
A Breaking Debut
Carly Hummel set a Memphis freshman record with 12 strikeouts in her collegiate debut. The 12 K's ranks in a tie for second place in school history, one behind the record of 13 set by former ace Jenna Kubesch against Alcorn State in 2007. Hummel is the first Tiger to record 10 or more strikeouts in a game since Rayna McClinton struck out 11 against UTEP in 2008. She is the fourth different Tiger to record 10 or more strikeouts in a game. Jenna Kubesch (9), Nicki Johnson (1) and Rayna McClinton (1) are the other three. Through 24.0 innings in 2010, Hummel has struck out 36 batters.
Senior RBI Machine
Senior Leigh Rowan went 3-for-6 (.500) with six RBI and a run scored in a doubleheader against Wichita State. The outfielder accounted for 50 percent of the RBIs in the two games. Rowan finished 2-for-3 with five RBI in game one, including a three-run homer to help Memphis run rule Wichita State, 11-2. Her five RBI in game one ranks tied for fourth all-time in school history and is the highest total since March 14, 2007 when Melissa Nance set a school record with eight RBI against Lipscomb. Rowan knocked in the only Memphis run in game two against WSU. Rowan leads the team with seven RBI this season. She is batting .381 with four runs scored and a home run.
