Softball Heads North to Face UConn

Friday, April 5

Storrs, Conn.

12 PM

University of Memphis

UConn

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Apr 04, 2019 | Softball

Three game series starts Friday at 12 p.m. CT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Fresh off of a pair of wins on Tuesday, the Memphis softball team travels to the Northeast to face UConn. First pitch against the Huskies is Friday at 12 p.m. CT at the Burrill Family Field at the Connecticut Softball Complex.

Games 38-40
Memphis (20-17 (2-4 AAC)) at UConn (13-19 (2-4 AAC))
Friday's first pitch: 12 p.m. CT
Location: Collins Family Softball Complex
Live Stats | Watch ($)

The Tigers head north after winning both games of a midweek double-header against Alcorn State. The midweek tune-up saw multiple Tigers play well, as the team combined for 20 hits and 25 runs scored. After taking game one 13-2, Memphis captured the game two win with a 12-0 shutout.

Game one saw the Tigers score 10 runs in the first inning, including six runs off of a double and a grand slam from Ashley Threatt. Her six RBI in a single inning are a Memphis record and the most in a single game in the American Athletic Conference this season. Six RBI also stand as the third-most in a single game in program history. Mariah Nichols picked up the win in game one, allowing only one earned run and giving up just three hits.

Memphis continued the offensive explosion in game two, scoring runs throughout the duration of the game. Regan Hadley connected on a pair of home runs, her first career multi-home run game. Baylee Smith led the way with three hits in game two. Smith and Delaney Smith each stole three bases in the game, en route to a season-high seven-swipe game for the Tigers. Karli Perque tossed her first-career no-hitter, the first of the season for the Tigers.

At the plate, three hitters bat over .300 on the season, led by Baylee Smith's .402 average. Smith has also contributed eight doubles, three triples and four home runs. Threatt, who finished the double-header with seven RBI, is one of four Tigers with 23 or more RBI on the season. Hadley leads Memphis with 31 RBI.

The Memphis pitching corps enters the weekend with a 3.26 ERA. With Perque's no-hitter, the Tigers have a combined seven shutouts, including two solo shutouts from Perque. Nichols has seen the most innings this season, pitching 97.1 innings, recording 78 strikeouts and compiling a 7-8 record. Perque has struck out 63 batters in 63.2 innings, holding opposing hitters to a .210 batting average. Bayleigh Wisher has a 6-2 record on the year, striking out 35.

A Look At The Competition
UConn has had a busy week at the ballpark, playing three games already this week. After winning a pair of games against Hartford on Tuesday, the Huskies fell to UMass on Wednesday. The double-header saw UConn outscore Hartford by a combined 28-1 through both games. Following the dominant wins, the Huskies struggled against UMass, falling 13-3 the following day.

Briana Marcelino leads the Huskies at the plate, hitting .385 with seven doubles and six home runs, leading the team in all three categories. Five Huskies have recorded at least 20 hits on the season.

The pitching staff for UConn holds a 4.19 ERA, led by Marybeth Olson's 2.08 ERA in 86.1 innings of work. Olson also has 91 strikeouts compared to just 19 walks. Katie Koshes has also produced in the circle, striking out 69 batters and holding opponents to a .252 batting average.

After taking two of three in last season's series, the all-time series between Memphis and UConn is tied at seven games apiece. The last four games the teams have played have all been shutouts, including an 8-0 win for Memphis in game two of last year's matchup.

Final Details
First pitch on Friday is set for 12 p.m. CT at the Burrill Family Field at the Connecticut Softball Complex. Live stats and a web stream($) will be available at www.gotigersgo.com. For all of the latest updates on the Memphis softball team, including schedule changes, follow the Tigers on social media at @MemphisSoftball.