Memphis Claims Series With 5-1 Victory Over East Carolina

Saturday, March 25

Memphis, Tenn.

3:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

16-16, 0-2

Memphis

17-12, 2-0

East Carolina

Memphis

Memphis Claims Series With 5-1 Victory Over East Carolina

March 25, 2017 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis built an early 3-0 lead Saturday on the way to a series-clinching 5-1 victory over East Carolina in an American Athletic Conference softball contest at a windy and damp Tigers Softball Complex.

Team Records: East Carolina: (16-16, 0-2 AAC) | Memphis: (17-12, 2-0 AAC)

The Rundown
Senior outfielder Kacie Oshiro and junior infielder Meredith Burroughs notched two hits apiece while Burroughs drove in the Pirates' lone run of the game. Redshirt junior catcher Alex Mycek also notched a base hit in the bottom of the first inning. A quartet of Tigers tallied a pair of hits each and Lindsey Stickrod added two RBI to her offensive output.

Christian Novak became the second Memphis pitcher of the weekend to toss a complete game, allowing just one earned run and scattering five hits as well as striking out five ECU batters and walking one. Senior RHP Lydia Ritchie (8-6) took the loss after surrendering three runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

How They Scored
After East Carolina left the bases loaded in the top of the first inning, Lindsey Crowdus hit a leadoff triple before scoring on a Kyler Trosclair sacrifice fly to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead after one complete. Stickrod made it 3-0 in favor of the home side in the bottom of the third with a sharp two-run single up the middle. The Pirates kept Memphis within striking distance, breaking through in the top of the fifth thanks to an Oshiro double to the gap in left center and a RBI single by Burroughs. A pair of RBI doubles, one in the fifth and sixth innings, capped the scoring as a double play in the top of the seventh ended the affair.

Statistics of the Game
For the second-straight game, the Tigers were able to get on base early in the innings as five of six leadoff batters reached base safely.

Up Next
ECU looks to salvage a game in the series Sunday when the teams meet at 11 a.m./Noon EDT for the finale. The contest was moved up an hour to accommodate East Carolina's travel schedule.