Oct. 18, 2012

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis softball team will wrap up its fall schedule Saturday as they take on Central Arkansas in Conway for a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on UCA's Farris Field.

In the Tigers' last outing, Memphis handed Christian Brothers an 8-2 loss as Ellen Roberts threw a one-hitter and Libby Goranson went 4-for-4 with a home run. The Tigers totaled 15 hits in the game for their highest offensive output of the 2012 fall season.

The Last Meeting Central Arkansas 1   Memphis 9 (5) March 4, 2009 Memphis, Tenn. Tigers Sweep Doubleheader with Central Arkansas University of Memphis softball sophomore pitchers Kimber Bossom and Janelle Valle held Central Arkansas to four combined hits in a doubleheader sweep over the Bears at the Tiger Softball Complex on Wednesday. The Tigers (10-8) won the opening game, 5-2, and then scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth of game two to win 9-1 in five innings. Recap | Box Score

"I think that I've seen a better offensive presence," said head coach Natalie Poole. "I've seen more confidence in them and more control of themselves at the plate. I think that a lot of them are doing a better job of managing themselves with two strikes, where before we really struggled with that. Pitching-wise, I definitely feel that the pitchers this year have a better handle on what we feel like is going to be successful. I think we've done a good job of eliminating walks this fall and attacking the hitters."

Goranson is leading the Tigers in hits with eight while Ashleigh King has recorded seven. In the circle, Jordan Richwood has struck out 20 in 16.2 innings of play for a 2.70 ERA, while Roberts has allowed just two earned runs for an ERA of 1.29 in two complete games.

The Sugar Bears of Central Arkansas are coming off their best season in program history with a 36-22 season, which included their first trip to the Southland Conference tournament.

"I definitely want to see us to continue to get better, to go out and be aggressive pitching-wise," Poole said. "We only have two healthy pitchers right now so I want to see us come out and complete ball games. A lot of the times in the fall we don't throw full games but this really challenges our pitchers early on. I'd like to see us do some good things, handle ourselves in a mature way and play the game with good communication."