Tigers Drop Heartbreaker to Mississippi State

Wednesday, February 27

Memphis, Tenn.

6 PM

University of Memphis

5-9

Mississippi State

12-4

Mississippi State

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Feb 27, 2019 | Softball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – In front of the highest attendance in program history, the University of Memphis softball team suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Mississippi State Wednesday evening by a score of 10-7. Memphis falls to 5-9 on the young season.

Memphis welcomed 537 fans for the 2019 home opener, the first 500-plus attendance figure in program history.

"They're a tough team," said head coach Natalie Poole. "We expected it to be a big battle tonight. It was nice to see us come back and be able to fight. It went back and forth there and it's unfortunate how it ended."

Mississippi State took an early 2-0 lead over the Tigers on four hits in the top of the first inning. Memphis answered in a big way an inning later with five runs on a pair of hits by Delaney Smith and Baylee Smith. Delaney Smith tied up the contest with a triple to right centerfield. Baylee Smith hit a three-run home run to put the Tigers up 5-2 over the visiting Bulldogs.

In the top of the fourth inning, Mississippi State struck back. The Bulldogs capitalized on a pass ball to load the bases. Fa Leilua proceeded to hit a grand slam, lifting Mississippi State to a 6-5 lead over the Tigers.

Bayleigh Wisher came in relief for the Tigers in the top of the fifth inning with a pair of runners on and no outs. Although Mississippi State loaded the bases, Wisher and the Memphis defense held strong to keep the Bulldogs from adding to the scoreboard.

Baylee Smith connected once again in the bottom of the fifth inning for her second home run of the game to tie the game up at 6-6.

The Tigers added one more run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-6 lead, but in a game with four lead changes, Mississippi State answered with another grand slam in the top of the seventh. A three up, three down inning for Memphis in the seventh halted the Tigers chance at their first win over Mississippi State in program history.

Scoring

Top 1 – Mississippi State strung together four singles to score two runs in the inning. The Bulldogs led the inning off with back-to-back hits. With the bases loaded, the Bulldogs singled up the middle and to keep two runs from scoring during the at bat, Delaney Smith threw a runner out at home. The fourth single of the inning scored the second run. (2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base)

Bottom 2 – Ryleigh Aungst drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on a fielding error during Alyssa Dean's at bat. Delaney Smith cleared the bases with her second triple of the season. Two batters later, Samantha Ibison drew a walk and scored on a three-run home run by Baylee Smith. (5 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 0 left on base)

Top 4 – With one out, a passed ball put a pair of runners on with two outs. The Bulldogs drew a walk to load the bases before Fa Leilua hit a grand slam to right centerfield. (4 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on base)

Bottom 5 – Baylee Smith hit a solo home run down the left field line. (1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on base)

Bottom 6 – Delaney Smith singled down the right field line, scoring Jessie Lamb. (1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on base)

Top 7 – With two outs, Mississippi State rallied together a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases. Mia Davidson hit a grand slam to put Mississippi State up 10-7 over Memphis. (4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base)

Notables

· Baylee Smith hit two home runs for the Tigers and drove in four. She now has a team-high three home runs and 16 RBIs this season.

· Smith is the first Mississippi State opponent to hit two home runs in the same game since April 22, 2016.

· The last time a Memphis player hit two home runs in the same game was Brooke Lee against Stephen F. Austin on Feb. 17, 2018.

· Delaney Smith registered her second triple of the season. Smith also recorded an outfield assist and made several crucial plays in centerfield.

· Delaney Smith finished with two hits along with Baylee Smith.

· Mariah Nichols earned the start against Mississippi State and pitched 4.0 innings for the Tigers. Bayleigh Wisher put in 3.0 innings in relief.

Memphis will stay at home for 18 of its next 19 games, starting this weekend with the Blues City Classic. The Tigers will play four games over the weekend, starting with Sam Houston State on Friday at 3:30 p.m. Action for the tournament will kick off at 11 a.m. Friday morning. For additional information on the Memphis softball team, visit us on social media at @MemphisSoftball.