Tigers Fall to SIUE & Indiana State in Tightly Contested Contests

Saturday, February 24

Memphis, Tenn.

2 PM

University of Memphis

0-11

SIUE

6-6

SIUE

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Tigers Fall to SIUE & Indiana State in Tightly Contested Contests

Feb 24, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Delaney Golden

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis softball team fell in back-to-back games against SIUE, 5-4, and Indiana State, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at Tiger Softball Complex in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Tigers (0-12) forced extra innings with the Cougars in the first game after scoring on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh inning before ultimately falling a run short in the eighth.

"I thought we came out with some grit and resiliency today, we just came up short in both games. I am proud of how they fought and competed for seven innings," head coach Stephanie VanBrakle Prothro said. "We need to come out with the same intensity tomorrow and keep plugging away. We just need someone to come through with the big hit, play or pitch and we win both games today."

Junior Zoe Adebayo got things moving for the Tigers against the Sycamores, firing off a solo home run the bottom of the fifth inning, but Memphis was unable to capitalize on the spark.

SIUE 5, Memphis 4

HOW IT HAPPENED

•       SIUE struck first in the top of the second inning when Piper Montgomery scored on a passed ball, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
•       The Cougars extended their lead in the third and fourth innings on a sac-fly that sent Paige Rocha home.
A sacrifice fly by Abby Harvell sent another run home in the top of the fourth inning.
•       Khamiyah Brown started the Tigers off hot in the bottom of the fourth with a double to center field that sent in Francesca Lumpp and advanced Zoe Adebayo to third.
•       Presley Morris followed suit with a single, sending in Brown and Adebayo to make the game 3-3 for Memphis in the bottom of the third frame.
•       Abigail Morgan made her first start of the season and shut down the Cougars in the top of the fifth and sixth innings.
•       In the top of the seventh frame, Grace Lueke singled down the left-field line for SIUE. All runners were able to advance on a Memphis error, giving SIUE the lead.
•       Bases were loaded as Lumpp stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh frame. Morris tied up the game after reaching home on a passed ball taking the Tigers into extra innings.
•       The Cougars added a run in the top of the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly.
•       Memphis managed two base runners in the bottom of the eighth after Zoe Adebayo reached on a fielder's choice and Taniyah Brown drew a walk, however both were left stranded.

NOTABLES

•       Morris recorded three hits and two RBI in the game.
•       The Tigers pushed extra innings for the first time this season after tying up the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.
•       Abigail Morgan got the start in the circle going 8.0 innings with one strikeout.

Indiana St. 3, Memphis 2

HOW IT HAPPENED

•       Indiana State scored first in the top of the third frame on a double by Isabella Henning that sent in Danielle Henning. The Sycamores added another run with a single by Kennedy Shade sending in Isabella Henning.
•       In the bottom of the fifth inning, Adebayo hit a home run to center field to put the Tigers on the board.
•       Kennedy Semien and Arianna Cox-Cole made it on base in the bottom of the sixth inning. Madison Berner drove in a run with a sac-fly to right field, sending Semien home to tie the score 2-2.
•       The Sycamores were held scoreless for the next three innings before scoring one more in the top of the seventh.
•       Adebayo reached base via walk in the bottom of the seventh, but the Tigers were unable to move her around the bases.

NOTABLES

•       Adebayo recorded her second home run of the season.
•       Rylee Dugar got the start in the circle going 6.2 innings with three strikeouts.
•       Taniyah Brown entered as relief to close out the top of the seventh inning.


UP NEXT

•       The Tigers will host DePaul and Tennessee Tech Sunday, Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Softball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram , and Facebook.