Before Memphis Softball starts AAC play, they hopped on I-40 for a midweek clash against the ASUN's Central Arkansas. It took an extra inning, but the Tigers got the job done 7-6 and improved to .500 on the year.
Here is how it happened:
Consistent Offense
The Tigers came out of the gates very well on the sticks, driving in three runs on four hits in the first few innings. It wasn't a home run derby or the product of many stolen bases, but it was consistent and productive all the way through the batting order.
Memphis finished the game with eight hits, seven runs and six RBIs on 28 at bats, with three of those hits going for extra bases.
Denying the Bears' Opportunities
Lyrical Bennett and the defense were the driving force of this game, denying Central Arkansas many hits because of some brilliant effort plays. On multiple occasions, balls that looked like they were going to be base hits turned into outs because of leaping snags.
Another way that Memphis played spoiler to the Bears was at the mound. Bennett went wire-to-wire in this game, throwing a whopping 174 pitches in eight innings. She picked up three strikeouts and was able to strand 11 runners on base. Denying all of those base runners the chance to score was massive for the Tigers and it ultimately decided the game.
Coming Through in the Clutch
On both sides of the ball, Memphis found ways to stay in the game when the pressure was on: Lyrical Bennett was able to find a massive strikeout with the bases loaded and the leading run on the plate in a full count in the fifth.
In extra innings, Zoe Adebayo went yard to give the Tigers the decisive seventh run and Kenndey Semien made a phenomenal diving catch of a fly ball on defense that essentially gave Memphis the win.
What's next
The Tigers look to start AAC play strong as they travel to Tulsa for a weekend series starting on March 7.
