Memphis Opens Conference Play with Weekend Series Against ECU

Friday, March 22

Memphis, Tenn.

5 PM

University of Memphis

ECU

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Memphis Opens Conference Play with Weekend Series Against ECU

Mar 21, 2019 | Softball

Live Stats Watch (FREE)Memphis Game Notes

The Tigers have won five of the last seven against the Pirates

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis softball team opens American Athletic Conference play with a weekend series against ECU. First pitch on Friday is at 5 p.m. at Tigers Softball Complex. This weekend, Memphis will celebrate Military Appreciation weekend.

Game 29
Memphis (15-13) vs. ECU (18-11)
First pitch: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Tigers Softball Complex
Live Stats | Watch (Free) |

Memphis (15-13) hosts the Pirates after falling to No. 14/18 Oklahoma State on Monday. Though the Tigers struggled, Ashley Threatt kept Memphis in the game with a two-run homer to left center in the fourth inning to cut the lead to three. Ultimately, the Tigers would fall 5-2.

Offensively, Baylee Smith leads the Tigers with a .384 batting average. Of her 28 hits, 14 of them are for extra bases, as the sophomore has connected on seven doubles, three triples and four home runs.

As a team, the Tigers have connected on 190 hits, including 36 doubles, nine triples and 17 home runs. Three Memphis Tigers sit atop the team leaderboards with four home runs on the season. Memphis has also swiped 36 stolen bases, led by Delaney Smith's 13.

In the circle, Memphis carries a 3.01 ERA as a staff, with 137 strikeouts and four shutouts. Tiger opponents only hit .236 against Memphis pitchers. Mariah Nichols paces the Tigers with 76.2 innings pitched and 58 strikeouts. Nichols also set the single-season school record for saves this year with four. Her seven career saves are one shy of the career record at the UofM. As a team, the seven saves that Memphis has this year are also a school record, overtaking the six saves in 2017.

A Look At The Competition
ECU visits Memphis after competing in the Mason Invitational in Fairfax, Virginia. The Pirates took four of their five games over the weekend, including a pair of shutouts over Sacred Heart and Cornell.

The Pirates have three players hitting over .370, led by Ashleigh Inae's .389 batting average. Tyler King and Rachel McCollum hit .381 and .372, respectively. The trio has combined for 19 doubles and 10 home runs on the year. King leads the team with 14 stolen bases in 18 attempts.

As a staff, ECU pitchers hold a 3.28 ERA, led by Erin Poepping's 2.11. Through 29 games, the Pirates have struck out 136 opponent batters, holding them to just a .275 batting average. Poepping also paces the Pirates with 95 Ks.

Memphis and ECU have played 36 times in previous seasons, with the Pirates holding a 23-13 advantage heading into the weekend. The Tigers won two of three last season in Greenville, with wins in five of the last seven.

Final Details
First pitch on Friday is set for 5 p.m. CT at Tigers Softball Complex. Live stats and a free stream will be available at www.gotigersgo.com. For all of the latest updates on the Memphis softball team, follow the Tigers on social media at @MemphisSoftball.