The University of Memphis softball team (29-12, 5-4 AAC) will continue conference play on the road this weekend as they face the Central Florida Knights (27-15, 6-3 AAC) in a three-game series. The Tigers are looking to bounce back after Tuesday’s loss against Tennessee. Memphis was run-ruled, losing 8-0 in five innings.
Coach Natalie Poole and the Tigers are one win away from their best season since Poole became the head coach in 2012. The best season in Memphis history was in 2011 when the Tigers went 36-14 and finished in the postseason.
Areas of improvement
The Tigers struggled to get hits against the Volunteers on Tuesday and will hope to have more production from the plate this weekend. Two players walked, and three players were left on base a combined six times at the end of innings. The Tigers also had five strikeouts in the game.
The pitchers struggled to be consistent. Molly Smith pitched three innings and allowed four walks and five runs. Smith was unable to pitch a single strikeout before Mariah Nichols came out in the fourth inning to close the game. Nichols pitched one strikeout and allowed one walk, four hits and three runs as the Lady Vols closed the game.
A look at the opponent
The Knights are coming off a 5-3 win against North Florida on Wednesday. The Knights have a .263 batting average and have four players batting at .300. Two of their top batters both have 21 RBIs and on base percentages above .420. They have completed 32 of an attempted 44 stolen bases this season and have allowed opponents 25 of an attempted 38 stolen bases.
The Knights’ pitchers have a 2.16 ERA after 1,046 at bats. They have pitched 172 strikeouts and allowed 113 walks and 13 home runs. The Knights have not allowed a triple this year.
Players to watch
Memphis pitcher Mariah Nichols
Poole has relied on Nichols this season. She has been responsible for 11 wins for the Tigers. She has a 2.68 ERA after seeing 366 batters. This season she has not allowed a triple and only allowed six doubles and six home runs, three of which came Tuesday. Batters have a .232 average against her after 95 innings pitched.
Memphis left fielder Baylee Smith
Smith leads the freshmen with a .409 batting average. She has 46 doubles, and she is third on the team with 26 RBIs and a .451 on base percentage. Smith is also second-highest on the team in stolen bases at 13 of an attempted 15. Smith recorded two of the four hits against Tennessee. The Tigers will want Smith to have another strong performance this weekend.
Central Florida second baseman Aubrey Johnson
Johnson is tied as the second-highest scorer on the team with 21 runs scored. She has a .330 batting average and has only been struck out 15 times in 41 games played. In her 109 at bats, she has five doubles and five home runs. She is tied leading the team with 21 RBIs.
Mariah Nichols gets set to pitch. The freshman has a 2.68 ERA and has had 62 strikeouts.
Baylee Smith gets set to swing as her team watches from the dugout. Smith is a left fielder and has a .409 batting average and has 26 stolen bases
