ULM tames Memphis Tigers in the bottom of the eleventh inning
It took extra innings, but ULM scored a dramatic 1-0 win over Conference USA foe Memphis on Wednesday night at the ULM Softball Complex.
Kayla Prater got things rolling for the Warhawks (17-20) in the eleventh inning with a lead-off infield single. Haylie McCall’s single up the middle advanced Prater to third base, setting the stage for her to score the game-winning run on a throwing error by the Tigers (18-27).
Head coach Rosemary Holloway-Hill called the team’s performance “awesome,” and praised her club for playing a complete game.
“Even though it went extra innings, it wouldn’t have mattered if it had gone seven innings or fifteen innings, I’m proud that we started something and finished it,” Holloway-Hill said.
Pitcher Stephanie Routzon took advantage of the strong wind, pitching all eleven shutout innings for ULM. The junior struck out two batters and surrendered five hits.
“It feels really good,” Routzon said. “It’s nice to know that all the work has paid off, for us to hold them to zero and finally getting [a win]. It doesn’t matter when as long we get it.”
Neither team collected their first hit until the bottom of the third inning when Elena DiMattia singled to left field for the Warhawks. Lead-off hitter Courtney Dutreix singled to right field in her second at bat of the game later in the inning. A strikeout ended the inning and put an end to ULM’s first threat against Memphis.
Memphis put their first mark in the hit column in the fourth inning, but they were not able to score. The top of the seventh inning was the best threat that Memphis could muster all night.
Routzon allowed a lead-off single up the middle followed by another single to left field. Memphis advanced to second base on the play due to a throwing error. Runners stood at second and third for the Tigers with one out. Routzon composed herself and retired the rest of the inning with a strikeout and a forced popup for the third out.
Next up for ULM softball is a trip to Oxford, Miss. to face Ole Miss on Wednesday, April 17. Gametime is set for 4 p.m.
