Feb. 10, 2008

Box Score

Tampa, Fla. - Memphis exploded for six runs in the eighth inning to run away with a 6-0 victory in extra innings over Bethune-Cookman on Sunday afternoon at the Wilson Tournament in Tampa, Fla.

B-CU (0-5) had several chances to try and secure a win in regulation before the game extended to extra innings at the USF Softball Stadium on the campus of the University of South Florida.

"We had several chances to win, but we just couldn't get our offense moving at all in key situations this weekend," expressed second-year head coach Chris Cochran. "We pitched pretty well, I thought, for having three freshmen, but our offense has got to back up those kids on the mound."

Referring to what Coach Cochran was talking about is easy when taking notice that the Wildcats first had a chance to score in the bottom of the first inning when freshmen Allison Garcia reached base safely before three Wildcats struck-out to end the side.

Memphis starting pitcher Kimber Bossom went the first three innings on the mound unscathed before being relieved with four hits tacked onto her score card ... as well as five key strikeouts.

B-CU attacked once again in the bottom-half of the second frame when senior catcher Brandi Holley took a 2-1 pitch up the middle, followed by an infield error charged to Memphis (2-3) to put freshman Brittani Austin on first base. The `Cats eventually loaded up the bases as another star freshman in the form of second baseman Sonya Urteaga collected her first hit of the season with a driving shot back up the middle with just one player out in the inning.

The Memphis pitching staff then stepped it up as they got Hinds to hit into a fielder's choice that watched Holley out at home, followed by a Tameika Jonas ground-out back to the pitcher to retire the side.

Memphis returned the favor in the top-half of the third frame as freshman pitcher Garcia seemed to struggle a bit as the Tigers rolled off a two-out rally to load up the bases for the first time all day. Garcia then collected a crucial ground-out back to herself as designated player Kammi Hayden was out on the play.

With the score deadlocked at 0-all, the game saw nothing but a pitcher's duel the rest of the way for both sides. Memphis' Bossom was relived in the fourth inning by Rayna McClinton for two frames. Janelle Valle finished off the game for the Tigers through the last three innings.

B-CU pressured the Tigers once again in the home-half of the sixth frame as freshman outfielder/pitcher Taryn Hernandez walked to kick-start the inning, followed by a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt from senior third baseman Christina Trimble. That pushed Hernandez over to second base, despite the fact that power hitter Trimble has not collected a single hit all season thus far. So, Coach Cochran used her as a decoy to put a runner in scoring position ... as a perfect ploy for the Wildcats.

Hernandez would eventually make her way over to third base on a wild pitch from Valle, followed by a walk issued to Holley to put runners on the corner with just one away. After a steal from Holley, Valle settled in to get the next two batters out in order and eventually force the game into the extra-inning session.

In the eighth inning, the international rule was put into play as pinch hitter Brittany Gooch was placed on second base to kickoff the frame. Pinch hitter Kim Sirman registered her first hit of the game when she singled through the left side to advance Gooch over to third. The first run of the game would score moments after that when a wild pitch from Garcia allowed Gooch to score from third. A double from first baseman Leila Dolfo plated Sirman and Tori Gross for the 3-0 advantage in favor of the Tigers.

The inning was cracked wide open with a triple from Heather Mott to score Lindsay Kelso. Mott scored one play later on another wild pitch from Garcia. She was relieved by freshman Chastity Sanders for the next two batters as Sanders collected a strikeout to end the side.

The Wildcats were unable to score in the bottom of the inning as they fell to 0-5 for the season, and collected just one run throughout their five games played in south Florida on the weekend.

"I thought we did a fairly good job of playing defense and pitching this weekend, but we have to find some hitting," expressed Cochran. "This season could be good for us if we can just get our hitters like Christina [Trimble] and Holley [Bussey] to come through for us."

The Memphis Tigers were led on the day by Mott's 2-for-4 day at the plate with four assisted putouts in the field. Sirman was 1-for-1, while Dolfo pitched in with one hit and two RBI.

The Wildcats were led at the plate by Brandi Holley with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, as well as 10 putouts behind the plate.

The win went to Valle who collected her first win of the season to move out to 1-0, while Garcia took the loss for B-CU to fall to 0-3 in her collegiate opening weekend for the Wildcats as their starting pitcher.

The `Cats will get back out onto the diamond next weekend when they travel to the state's capital of Tallahassee, Fla. Once there, B-CU will face-off against UAB in the first game of the Seminole Classic hosted by Florida State University.

For more information on the FSU Seminole Softball Classic, please locate your internet browser to www.Seminoles.com for a complete listing of games/events for the entire weekend. For games involving B-CU, please call the B-CU Office of Sports Information at (386) 481-2206.