BY: W. Brandon Kolditz, Assistant Director – University of Memphis
MEMPHIS – A double steal in the first inning brought in the only score as the University of Memphis softball team shut out Ole Miss 1-0 on Wednesday night in front of packed stadium at the Tigers Softball Complex.
Senior RHP Ellen Roberts went the distance for the victory, allowing no runs on three hits with five strikeouts and one walk. The Australian native has yet to allow an earned run in 21 innings pitched this fall and has struck out 34 batters.
Freshman Lindsay Crowdus and sophomore Hannah Harrell led off the bottom of the first for Memphis with a pair of walks off Ole Miss senior Shelby Jo Fenter. After stealing third, Crowdus came home on a delayed double steal for the Tigers only score.
Memphis had chances to break the game open but left 10 runners on base, stranding the bases loaded in both the third and fourth innings. The Tigers outhit the Rebels 4-3, but didn’t record their first hit until the third inning.
Ole Miss never moved a runner past second in the game. A pinch hit single in the sixth inning was the only hit for Rebels from its batters below the two hole.
Fenter suffered the loss after allowing one run on two hits in three innings, striking out five and walking three. Ole Miss pitching collected 10 strikeouts in the game and walked six.
Memphis continues its fall play with a home doubleheader against CBU on Friday beginning at 4 p.m. The Tigers then host a three-game tournament with Rhodes College and Harding on Sunday beginning at noon. Admission is free for all home games.
