Tigers Complete Sweep of UTEP

Sunday, April 6

Memphis, Tenn.

12 PM

University of Memphis

19-19, 3-8

UTEP

23-17, 4-8

UTEP

Memphis

Apr 06, 2008 | Softball

Box Score

April 6, 2008

Box Score |  Notes

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

UTEP (23-17, 4-8)     100 000 0 - 1  6  4
Memphis (19-19, 3-8)  010 400 x - 5  6  1
WP: McClinton (4-3) LP: Townsend (10-8)
2B: Hines (2)

Box Score in PDF Format

MEMPHIS - In another strong outing by freshman Rayna McClinton, the University of Memphis softball team earned the three-game sweep over UTEP with a 5-1 victory on Sunday at the Tiger Softball Complex.

McClinton (4-3) allowed one run on four hits for her second victory in as many days. The Columbia, S.C., native struck out three and walked eight, but pitched out of several jams as UTEP stranded 13 runners on base.

With the win, the U of M evens its overall mark at 19-19 and improves to 3-8 in Conference USA play after starting the year 0-8. The Miners falls to 23-17 overall and 4-8 in league play. UTEP has dropped eight of its last nine conference games after starting out 3-0.

After the Miners had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Memphis evened the game with a run in the second before busting out for four runs in the fourth. A wild pitch and three UTEP errors led to the big inning for the Tigers.

Junior second baseman Tori Gross led the team with a 2-for-3 performance and knocked in her fourth RBI of the series with a single in the second.

The Tigers strung together six hits off UTEP sophomore RHP Stacie Townsend (10-8) who allowed five runs in three and a third innings with four strikeouts for her second loss in the series. In her start against Memphis the previous day, Townsend had struck out 12 in a 1-0 U of M victory.

UTEP singled twice in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Jennifer Davis led things off with a one-out single up the middle. After Townsend had struck out and Davis had advanced to second on a stolen base, Ashley Ellis hit an RBI single through the left side to give the Miners the early lead.

Memphis answered with a run in the second inning. Redshirt-freshman Heather Mott led off the inning with a single down the left field line and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a one-out walk to freshman Kailey Kassner, Tori Gross hit a RBI single to center field to tie the game at one.

The Tigers scored four runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-1 lead. Gross got things started with a one-out single to left field followed by a bunt single from junior Brittany Gooch. Leigh Rowan then came in to pinch hit and the first pitch she saw was wild, allowing Gross to score and runners to advance to second and third. Rowan then hit a grounder to third that was misplayed allowing Gooch to score. Two-consecutive UTEP throwing errors allowed Dolfo and Leandra Hines to cap the scoring.

The Miners had runners in scoring position in every inning through five and stranded the bases loaded in the third and fifth innings.

The Tigers will next play a mid-week doubleheader at UT Martin on Wednesday, April 9 at 2 and 4 p.m. in Martin, Tenn. Memphis will then host a three-game conference series with Southern Miss on Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13.