University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
North Alabama
Softball set to host Tiger Classic this weekend
Mar 14, 2019 | Softball
Memphis welcomes Maine, Murray State, North Alabama and Texas Tech
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis softball team returns home this weekend to host the Tiger Classic, beginning Friday morning. Memphis welcomes Maine, Murray State, North Alabama and nationally-ranked Texas Tech to the Tigers Softball Complex.
Competition begins at 9 a.m. Friday morning with a game between Texas Tech and North Alabama. Memphis is set to play two games Friday, two games Saturday and one game Sunday.
The Tigers are coming off of a road setback to Ole Miss Wednesday afternoon and enter the weekend with a 12-10 overall record. At home this season, Memphis is 7-0. Against Ole Miss, Delaney Smith led the Tigers with a 1-for-1 effort and two drawn walks.
Baylee Smith leads the Tigers offensively with a .393 batting average and 22 hits. She has registered 13 extra base hits including a team-leading four home runs. The Tigers have a total of three players hitting over .300. Ashley Threatt and Delaney Smith join Baylee Smith with marks of .321 and .300, respectively.
In the circle, Mariah Nichols has hurled a team-leading 63.1 innings with 40 strikeouts. She has a 4-5 record this season. Senior Bayleigh Wisher has tossed 39.2 innings for Memphis and owns a 4-1 record.
A Look At The Competition
Maine has competed in 12 games thus far and carries a 2-10 overall record into the weekend. As a team, the Black Bears are hitting .260 and have two players with double-digit hits.
In the circle, Maine owns a 4.86 team ERA with 43 combined strikeouts. Four pitchers have equally carried the load this season.
Murray State is 9-11 overall and 0-3 on the road this season. The Racers hit .287 as a team and have registered 11 home runs this season.
The Racers carry a 4.36 team ERA with six pitchers seeing action in the circle this season. The Murray State pitching staff has allowed 22 home runs this season and have allowed its opponents a .318 batting average.
North Alabama comes to Memphis with an 11-6 overall record and 7-1 mark in true road games. The Lions collectively hit .288 as a team while holding their opponents to a .202 mark at the plate.
Megan Garst leads North Alabama in the circle with a 0.89 ERA in a team-leading 47.0 innings pitched. She has struck out 67 batters this season while allowing just 11 walks.
Texas Tech enters the weekend with a 24-1 overall record and nationally are ranked No. 10 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll and No. 13 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25 Poll. The lone loss for Texas Tech this season was against No. 4 Washington.
Jessica Hartwell leads the team offensively with a .437 batting average and Karli Hamilton is the team's hit leader with 36 this season. The Red Raider pitching staff holds their opponents to .195 at the plate and collectively, Texas Tech has a 1.91 team ERA.
Final Details
The tournament begins at 9 a.m. at the Tigers Softball Complex with Texas Tech and North Alabama. Memphis' first game of the day is slated for 1:30 p.m. against North Alabama. Live stats are available for all teams and a live audio feed is available for Friday and Sunday Memphis contests. For more information on the Memphis softball team, follow the Tigers on social media at @MemphisSoftball.
