The University of Memphis Tigers will return home to play the Murray State Racers on Wednesday at Tiger Softball Complex. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Murray State is one of 11 matches left before Memphis heads to the American Athletic Conference Tournament. The highest number of wins in a single season for Memphis softball was set in 2011 when Memphis went 36-14 and reached the postseason. With the amount of games left to play, the Tigers could tie or surpass that number before the end of their season.
Areas of improvement
The Tigers are coming off a three-game losing streak. After winning game one in a three-game series against UCF, they dropped the second two. Memphis traveled to Starkville, Mississippi, on Tuesday to take on Mississippi State, where they lost 3-1.
In Orlando, Florida, the Tigers struggled to get hits in their second game. They got eight hits and four walks but were unable to make runs as eight players were left on base during the game. While the Tigers scored four runs, they struggled to overcome UCF’s 5-3 lead at the end of the second inning, and they dropped game two 5-4.
UCF came out strong in the first inning of game three, and a home run gave them the lead at 2-0. Two more runs scored in the first inning, and the Tigers were unable to overcome the Knights’ early lead.
Against the Bulldogs on Tuesday, Memphis scored their first run and had the bases loaded in the fifth inning with one out. On a wild pitch, Delaney Smith tried to steal home, but she was called out. Addison Maxwell grounded out to close out the inning.
The Tigers out-hit the Bulldogs 8-5 but struggled to score off those hits. The Tigers will need to come out strong against Murray State and convert hits into runs.
Head coach Natalie Poole said playing back-to-back days in the middle of the week and playing weekends can be “taxing,” but she said she was excited for the Tigers to return to their home field.
“I love being able to get the live at-bats in the middle of the week because I think nothing replaces that,” she said. “However, we have some things we would love to be practicing right now. It will be nice to play Murray State at home. I think that we play well on our home field, so I will be happy to be back and be able to do that and tackle a different opponent.”
She said she also hopes to see the Tigers pitch well so they will be prepared to host conference opponent UConn this weekend.
A look at the opponent
Murray State is on a seven-game losing streak. The Racers are 2-8 on the road and currently have a .241 batting average. They have three batters batting above .300 and two batters with 25 RBIs this season.
Their pitchers have a combined 4.07 ERA. They have pitched 115 strikeouts and allowed 13 triples and 22 home runs in 1,065 at-bats.
Players to watch
Murray State infielder Sierra Gilmore
Gilmore leads the Racers with a .306 batting average. She is tied for the most RBIs at 25. She has 38 hits and stays aggressive on the bases with 21 runs. She has an on-base percentage of .343.
Gilmore has attempted to steal bases twice and was successful both times. She also struck out 19 times this season.
Memphis utility player Addison Maxwell
Maxwell earned American Athletic Conference Player of the Week last week after having a .500 batting average during the week. She also made the AAC weekly honor roll.
Maxwell has a .302 batting average, and the senior was consistent from the plate. Six of her 39 hits came last weekend against the Knights. Maxwell had her second triple of the season in game three of the UCF series.
Against the Bulldogs, Maxwell was unable to record a hit in her three at-bats. The Tigers will hope she bounces back and has another solid performance Wednesday.
Addison Maxwell gets set to swing. The Collierville native has a .310 batting average and was named AAC player of the week.
Ashley Threatt gets set to field a groundball. She has a .349 batting average and leads the team with six home runs.
