The University of Memphis softball team (22-16, 3-3 AAC) will host AAC opponent UCF (19-16 at press time, 3-3 AAC) this weekend in a three game series. The Tigers, 15-6 at home, are coming off a double-header sweep against UT Martin on Tuesday.
Memphis struggled in both games but came out on top Tuesday. The Tigers had a 5-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. The Skyhawks scored two runs in the final inning, but the defense stepped up to keep the game from going to extra innings.
In the second game, the Tigers were down 2-0 heading into the fifth inning. The Tigers’ defense was able to hold the Skyhawks scoreless the rest of the night and Memphis came back to win the game 6-2.
Tyler Johnson hit a home run in the fifth. In the sixth, the Tigers were able to add three more runs after an RBI single by Hannah Harrell and two errors by the Skyhawks. Tyler Johnson’s single allowed Addison Maxwell to score the final run of the night.
A look at the opponent:
UCF has three players who bat above .310 on the season and have an on-base percentage above .360. Two of those players, Cassidy Brewer and Courtney Rotton have two home runs each. UCF bats .279 as a team, but pitchers allow their opponents to bat .282.
UCF went 2-1 this season against East Carolina earlier this season. The Tigers also went 2-1 against the Pirates two weeks ago.
Areas for improvement:
The Tigers have not won a conference game where they have allowed more than one walk. The pitchers will have to make sure they throw efficiently this weekend.
Memphis has only lost twice this season when they hit above .300 as a team. The last five games that they have batted less than .300 have resulted in losses.
Players to watch:
First baseman Lindsey Stickrod
Stickrod has been effective with the bat this season. She has six doubles, two of which came Tuesday against UT Martin. She also has 15 RBIs and has an on-base percentage of .302. She will need another strong performance this weekend for the Tigers.
Short stop Kyler Trosclair
Trosclair is one of two Tigers batting better than .400 this season. She played well Tuesday as both her hits resulted in RBIs. She has had five doubles and four triples this season. Her on-base percentage is .472, which has helped her scored a team-high 25 runs.
She broke her career stolen base record Tuesday, successfully stealing for the 25th time. The leadoff batter will need to pull off another strong performance for the Tigers this weekend.
Outfielder Megan Greenwell
Greenwell is batting .275 this season. She has 25 hits, 14 runs and seven RBIs. She leads her team in stolen bases with 18 and has only been caught once. Greenwell is an all-around player that can help her team in many ways.
Outfielder Linnea Goodman
Goodman is hitting .349 with 14 RBIs. She has a team-high eight doubles this season. She also has seven stolen bases this season. She has an on-base percentage of .405 and has 37 hits and 20 runs.
The Tigers pitching and defense will have to keep Goodman and Greenwell in check to win the series.
Lindsey Stickrod waits and prepares for the pitch. She leads the Tigers with eight doubles this season.
