MEMPHIS—Freshman pitcher Kristin Walters (Paris, Tenn., Henry County HS) tossed a three-hit shutout in the nightcap as the Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs split a Gulf South Conference doubleheader with Southern Arkansas Friday night, dropping the opener 2-1 but winning the second game 1-0.

Both games were decided in the first inning, and illegal pitches were crucial in both innings.

In the first game, Nikki Dunn (Southaven, Miss./Southaven HS) threw an illegal pitch on a 3-2 swing and a miss to SAU (6-29, 5-15 GSC) leadoff batter Stephanie Montes, nullifying the strikeout and instead awarding a walk.  With two out, Katie Lenderman launched a two-run bomb to center field, giving SAU hurler Alexandra Doyle all the run support she would need.

The Lady Bucs (16-22, 5-17) scored once in the first inning as Victoria Mathews (Arlington, Texas/Mansfield Timberview HS) walked, stole second, and scored on a Casey King (Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound HS) single, but the Lady Bucs were unable to score again. 

Dunn (13-11) finished with 11 strikeouts as she threw a three-hitter, while Doyle (5-19) struck out seven and allowed four hits.

In the nightcap, it was Mathews who benefited from the illegal pitch.  She flew out to right field on a 1-1 pitch, but the out was nullified by an illegal pitch on SAU's second pitcher, Denise Amador.  Two pitches later, Mathews blasted a homer to center field for the game's only run.

From there, Walters (1-2) was excellent, allowing just three hits and two walks in the victory, which was her first win, her first complete game, and her first shutout.  She mowed down 13 of the last 14 batters she faced, including the last eight in a row.

Kathleen Nelson (Bartlett, Tenn./Bolton HS) was the only Lady Buc to post a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 in the nightcap.

The Lady Bucs and Lady Muleriders meet again Saturday morning for the second doubleheader of their series.  With storms approaching the Memphis area, first pitch has been moved up to 9 a.m.