The University of Memphis (25-8, 2-1 American Athletic Conference) softball team will continue to try and make history as they host the University of South Florida Bulls (25-13, 3-0 AAC) for their first home conference series. The Bulls currently rank 53rd in the Rating Percentages Index, while the Tigers sit close behind at 55th.
This week, the Tigers received votes in both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and USA TODAY top-25 polls. This is the first time the Tigers have gotten top-25 votes since Natalie Poole started coaching.
The Tigers advanced to 25 wins after a sweep against Alcorn State in a doubleheader Tuesday. The Tigers are four wins away from tying their number of wins last season. Memphis is having their best start in program history.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Poole said. “We’ve steadily worked … it’s exciting to surpass what we’ve done here. It’s exciting to think about the number of wins we could end up with. All we’re thinking about is putting ourselves in a position at the end of the year to be in the postseason.”
Poole said “it’s definitely possible” for them to see a conference opponent sweep this season, which the Tigers’ seniors have never seen before.
“I expect South Florida to be hard,” Poole said after the wins against Alcorn State. “I expect them to be as hard as what we faced this past weekend with Wichita. I just told them (the Tigers) we are going to have to earn everything that we get. Nothing is going to be handed to us. We have to want it more than them, and then we’ve got to out perform them every single moment of every game this weekend. ”
A look at the opponent
USF has faced multiple ranked opponents this season. Their biggest win this season was 3-3 against then-No. 18 Michigan in February. The Bulls are coming off a 3-0 sweep against AAC opponent University of Connecticut. Two of those wins they closed on run rules, keeping UConn scoreless.
The Bulls have not won an away game this season. The team has a batting average of .307 and three batters in the starting lineup are batting better than .300.
Defensively, the Bulls’ pitchers have pitched 201 strikeouts and allowed just three triples. Memphis was aggressive, seeing a season-high of seven stolen bases in the game against Alcorn State, but USF has allowed only 16 stolen bases all season.
Players to watch
South Florida infielder Lindsay Devitt
Devitt puts up big numbers for the Bulls offensively. She leads the team with a .396 batting average and 32 runs batted in. She is tied leading the team with five home runs. Defensively, her 113 catches have resulted in 50 putouts and 57 assists.
Memphis outfielder Delaney Smith
Smith came in with big shoes to fill from the Tigers’ previous top scorer Lindsay Crowds, who graduated after last season, and she has responded. While she has nine RBIs and a home run this season, her strength is being aggressive on base. Smith is ranked 23rd in the nation in stolen bases, the highest of any AAC player. She also plays well defensively. She has 35 catches and 35 putouts from the outfield.
Memphis pitcher Molly Smith
Smith pitched a complete game in the first win against Alcorn State on Tuesday. She has been more consistent pitching lately. Smith is 17-6 from the mound and has received multiple AAC honors this season. The senior has pitched 143 strikeouts this season and allowed 93 hits. Her pitching consistency will be a key for the Tigers this weekend.
Delaney Smith records a hit against Mississippi State. Smith leads the American Athletic Conference with 28 stolen bases.
Molly Smith in action against Mississippi State. Smith made 32 appearances on the mound for the Tigers in her Junior season.
