Softball Splits Afternoon Doubleheader at Alcorn State

Tuesday, March 6

Alcorn State, Miss.

1 PM

University of Memphis

5-15

Alcorn State

4-12

Memphis

Alcorn State

Softball Splits Afternoon Doubleheader at Alcorn State

Mar 06, 2012 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

March 6, 2012

Game 1 Box Score&nbsp|&nbspGame 2 Box Score

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ALCORN, Miss. - The University of Memphis softball team split an afternoon doubleheader at Alcorn State on Tuesday afternoon. Memphis took the first game, 5-1, before falling, 3-0, in the second matchup of the day.

The two teams were scoreless through the first four innings of the first game, but Memphis would score the first run in the top of the fifth. Amber Lindahl led off the inning with a single down the left field line. Jami Miller entered to pinch run for Lindahl and Ashleigh King layed down a sacrifice bunt to move Miller to second base. Miller then stole third base before a sacrifice fly by Alyssa Palmieri scored the run.

Memphis then struck for four runs in the fifth inning. Laura Curtis started with a single through the right side. Jessica Phillips was hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and second with no outs. Ijiah Hargrove entered as a pinch-runner for Phillips and Ellen Roberts drew a walk, loading the bases. After Kassy Dunn hit into a fielders choice, King was hit by a pitch to score Hargrove and keep the bases loaded for Palmieri. Palmieri came through for the second time in the game, hitting a three-run triple to left center to put the U of M ahead, 5-0.

The Tigers allowed Alcorn State to get one run back in the bottom of the fifth. Sam Martinez led off with a single and stole second base. She then scored on a single by Rayann Davis.

Roberts shut the door for the rest of the game, earning the victory and improving to 3-6 on the season. The final line for Roberts was seven innings pitched, one earned run, two walks and eight strikeouts. Kassa Duncan took the loss for Alcorn State, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk.

In the second game of the double-header, it took until the bottom of the fourth before either team crossed the plate. Alcorn State's Brit Crayton led off the inning with an infield single. Martinez put down a sacrifice bunt to move Crayton to second. Memphis pitcher Jordan Richwood struck out Alexa Harris, but Davis came through with an RBI double to left center.

After Alcorn State tacked on another run in the fifth, Memphis had its best chance to score in the top of the sixth. With one out, Mosby reached on an infield single. Phillips, pinch-hitting for Curtis, drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Curtis returned to replace Phillips on the base pads. Roberts stepped to the plate and hit a hard line drive right at center-fielder Chque Givens for the second out. Libby Goranson put a ball into the hole between short and third. Alcorn State's shortstop, Harris, got to the ball and threw out Curtis in a close play at second base.

The Braves scored an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to lead, 3-0, and quickly recorded two outs on the Tigers in the top of the 7th. Down to the last out in the game, Palmieri delivered a single right field. Pinch-hitting for Kamri Chester, Miller then drove a single up the middle. Palmieri held at second, but tried to advance to third on an errant throw by the centerfielder. Unfortunately, the errant throw bounced off the Tigers' dugout to the pitcher, who threw Palmieri out at third to end the game.

Richwood took the loss for Memphis, falling to 0-5 on the season. The freshman hurler went all six innings, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks. She struck out 10 batters in the contest. Dea Rancilio went the distance for Alcorn State, giving up five hits, no walks and striking out two Tigers.

Following the split doubleheader, Memphis is now 5-16 on the season. The Tigers will be back in action Saturday, March 10 at UAB. The first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 1:00 p.m. (CT).