MEMPHIS, Tenn. – IUPUI softball jumped out to an early lead in Memphis but was not able to mount any more offense after the first inning in a 4-2 loss to Memphis on Monday afternoon (Mar. 11).
The Jags got things going in a big way in the first inning after
Emily Berrisford got on base due to a Memphis error.
Haley Ginger capitalized on the error hitting a two-run shot to center field to give the Jags the early lead. It was Ginger's third home run of the season and second-straight day with a long ball for the Jags.
IUPUI kept things going and loaded the bases with no outs after
Mandy Dallas singled,
Delaney Thompson walked and
Kristin London singled.
McKenzie Loge struck out for the first out and
Sabrina Trevino's ground ball was thrown home to get Dallas for the second out of the inning. A ground out by
Taytum Schaney left the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the inning, starter
Amanda Melzoni gave up a single and the runner advanced to third on back-to-back stolen bases. After a walk and a strikeout, Memphis scored its first run on a groundout to Dallas at second. The next batter doubled to tie the game and a single down the left field line gave Memphis the 3-2 lead and chased Melzoni from the game.
Lexi Lucas was brought in to the game and got out of the inning without any trouble and for the next three innings both pitchers shut down the offenses with only the Jags managing two hits, leaving both runners on.
In the top of the fifth, IUPUI got two runners on with two outs after a walk drawn by
Kristin London but Loge grounded out to end the inning.
Memphis only tallied five hits all game and one after the first inning but in the fifth, the Tigers made the most of that hit with a solo home run to double their lead to 4-2.
IUPUI tried to mount a rally with back-to-back singles to start the inning by Trevino and Schaney but a double play in the next at bat squashed that hope.
Coming down to its last inning, IUPUI found itself quickly down to its last out after Ginger fouled out and Dallas struck out but Thompson singled to keep the game alive. On four-straight pitches, London walked and brought pinch hitter
Maddie Keeley up as the go-ahead run. On a 2-2 count Keeley grounded out, sending IUPUI to its sixth-straight loss.
UP NEXT
IUPUI will play two games in a midweek double header in Terre Haute, Ind., against the Indiana Sycamores. The first game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
