After going 23-33 last season, the University of Memphis Tigers softball team is gearing up for another collegiate softball season in the American Athletic Conference. They finished 5-15 in the AAC and 18-18 in non-conference play.
Coaching her fourth season of Lady Tigers Softball coach Natalie Poole said, “I feel like we’re getting better, and the kids are maturing and becoming (more) athletic.”
The Lady Tigers are coming off of a season where statistically the team was very polarizing when they as to when they were leading or trailing in a game.
When the Lady Tigers had the lead going into the final inning, the team was a very impressive 17-3. However, when they were trailing into the final inning they had a poor 2-20 record.
Poole said it’s important that they take the lead early in the game to boost their confidence.
“We have to come out aggressive from the beginning,” Poole said. “When we’re ahead, we are confident.”
Though they lost five seniors last season, the Lady Tigers are still a young team. Poole said, “That they got good chemistry, and are working hard and playing hard.”
Their 2015 schedule consists of six tournaments that will feature some big marquee games like Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Florida State, and etc.
Poole said with the lack of teams in their conference who have softball programs, they want to play high level teams to see how well they play up to the competition, and also to qualify for the postseason.
She said that the team will have giveaways and other prizes for people who attend their games, and Poole also said, “She wants to see the students to come on support their team.”
The Lady Tigers will kickoff their season with the Tiger Classic which takes place from Feb. 6-8 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and will compete against the LSU Tigers, Tennessee State Tigers and the North Carolina State Wolfpack.
Here is their full schedule below.
Tiger Classic from February 6-8 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana against the LSU Tigers, Tennessee State Tigers twice, and NC State Wolfpack.
FIU Tournament from February 13-14 in Miami, Florida against Long Island Blackbirds, FIU Panthers twice, and Purdue Boilermakers.
Blues City Classic from February 20-22 in Memphis, Tennessee against Butler Bulldogs, Northern Iowa Panthers, Nicholls State Colonels, and SEMO Redhawks.
McNeese State Tournament from February 27- March 4 in Lake Charles, Louisiana against Texas Tech Red Raiders twice, McNeese State Cowboys, and Holy Cross Crusaders; in Oxford, Mississippi against Ole Miss Rebel Black Bear; in Memphis, Tennessee against Ball State Cardinals.
FAU Parents Weekend Tournament in Boca Raton, Florida from March 6 and 7 against Bethune Cookman Wildcats, FAU Owls, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, and Florida State Seminoles.
College of Charleston Tournament in Charleston, South Carolina from March 13-15 against Marist Red Foxes, New Mexico Lobos, Wisconsin Badgers, College of Charleston Cougars, Furman Paladins
The other nonconference games includes Belmont Bruins, Alcorn State Braves, Jackson State Tigers Lipscomb Bison, UT-Martin Skyhawks, Central Arkansas Bears, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Murray State Racers, and the AAC teams; Tulsa, East Carolina, UCONN, UCF, USF, and Houston.
