The University of Memphis softball team (29-11, 5-4 AAC) will continue road play Tuesday as they face the Tennessee Volunteers (33-8, 5-7 SEC) in Columbia, Tennessee. Memphis is 1-1 against SEC opponents this season, and Tennessee could be the highest ranked team the Tigers can face this season. Tennessee was ranked No. 8 in the latest NFCA polls, but their loss to Auburn over the weekend could change their rankings when the new poll is released Tuesday.
Memphis went 2-1 this weekend on the road against conference opponent East Carolina. The Tigers won the double-header games Friday but were unable to finish with a sweep Sunday.
Areas of improvement
After pitching a combined 11 strikeouts in the games on Friday, Molly Smith pitched just three strikeouts on Sunday. The Pirates were able to get two home runs in the game, and their six hits gave them the 4-1 win.
Memphis had 17 hits in their two games Friday but struggled Sunday. Memphis only recorded one hit from Delaney Smith, and they recorded five walks in the game. The defense will need to back up the pitchers, the pitchers will need more consistency and the offense will want to see more production at the plate if they want to win Tuesday.
A look at the opponent
The Lady Vols are playing well from the plate with a .323 batting average — 14th highest in the NCAA. They have two batters in the top-30 in the nation and have three players batting above .400. They are 17th in the nation in on base percentage at .406.
Defensively, they are holding opponents to a .206 average.
In 41 games, they have had 36 stolen bases, less than half the number of stolen bases the Tigers have. Their defense has only allowed 25 stolen bases this season.
Their pitchers are 43rd in the nation with a 2.32 ERA, and opponents have a 5.61 ERA. They have pitched 276 strikeouts and allowed just one triple.
Players to watch
Tennessee infielder Aubrey Leach
Leach has a .455 batting average. Last season, she led the SEC with 60 runs scored, and she has already scored 54 this season. Her 56 hits have included four doubles, a triple and a pair of home runs. She has 17 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Leach could be a threat to the Tiger defense in the Tuesday matchup.
Memphis center fielder Delaney Smith
Smith has a .373 batting average, the third-highest of any Tiger. She is 25th in the nation and first in the conference in stolen bases with 25. She has not been struck out since March 31. She had one RBI this weekend against ECU.
Memphis pitcher Molly Smith
Smith is one of the pitchers responsible for the Tigers’ 1.90 team ERA, which is 22nd in the nation. She has a 1.49 ERA and has allowed 49 runs. She has pitched 169 strikeouts and allowed one triple and 11 home runs. Smith is expected to have another strong performance tomorrow, and the Tigers will need it against the Lady Vols.
Catcher Regan Hadley talks to pitcher Molly Smith. Smith has a 1.49 ERA this season and has pitched 169 strikeouts to Hadley.
Molly Smith winds up and starts her delivery to the plate. The senior pitcher has 1.49 ERA this season and has pitched 169 strikeouts.
Molly Smith gets set to pitch against Mississippi State. She has a 1.49 ERA this season and pitched three no hitters.
