Oct. 2, 2008

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

MEMPHIS - The University of Memphis softball team will host a four-team fall tournament on Saturday at the Tiger Softball Complex located in the Park Avenue Campus. The Tigers will play Northwest Mississippi Community College at 2 p.m. immediately followed by a match-up with Holmes Community College.

"We're excited to hit the field this weekend and play some competition outside of ourselves," said Memphis head coach Windy Thees. "With only two weeks of team practice, this weekend will be a good gauge to see where we need to focus our efforts for the next four weeks. I'm especially excited to see what our crop of six new players bring to the table in real game situations, as well as see the growth of our two sophomore pitchers."

The tournament begins at 10 a.m. with cross-town Southwest Tennessee Community College battling Northwest Mississippi. Southwest will then play Holmes at noon. All games have an hour and fifty minute maximum time limit.

The Tigers are in the second week of their allowed six week fall team workouts in preparation for the 2009 season that begins on February 6 against Jacksonville State in a tournament hosted by South Alabama in Mobile, Ala. Last year, the U of M finished 25-30 and 4-18 in Conference USA.

Preparing for its fourth season in existence, the Memphis softball team boasts its first four-year seniors for the upcoming season. Catcher Kimmi Hayden, second baseman Tori Gross, infielder Leila Dolfo, outfielder Brittany Gooch and outfielder Leandra Hines all joined the Tigers as freshman for the team's inaugural season in 2006.

Memphis returns eight of nine position starters and two of three starting pitchers. C-USA All-Freshman team selection Kimber Bossom (11-16, 3.61 ERA) and Janelle Valle (9-6, 3.00) both return for their sophomore season.

The Tigers welcome six newcomers to the squad with five freshman and one junior college transfer. Junior pitcher Vanessa Walle transferred to Memphis from Phoenix College.

Fans can follow the Tigers' exhibition match-ups with live stats through CBS College Sports GameTracker. A link to the live content can be found at GoTigersGo.com. Admission to the tournament is free.