Tigers Secure First Win in Blues City Classic Finale

Sunday, February 25

Memphis, Tenn.

9 AM

University of Memphis

0-13

DePaul

3-11

DePaul

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Tigers Secure First Win in Blues City Classic Finale

Feb 25, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis softball team earned its first win in the Blues City Classic finale at the Tiger Softball Complex Sunday afternoon.

The Tigers (1-13) split the day falling 5-0 to DePaul before defeating Tennessee Tech 2-1 off runs from Kennedy Semien and Aubrey Williams early in the second inning of the match up. Memphis also held strong defensively, allowing only one run on four hits against the Golden Eagles.

"We had a great start from Rylee [Dugar] and got some key hitting from Aubrey [Williams] and Arianna [Cox-Cole] to help score both of our runs," head coach Stephanie VanBrakle Prothro said. "Abby came in and finished the game. It was a total team effort and much better play from this morning."

DePaul 5, Memphis 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

•       Taniyah Brown recorded the Tigers first hit of the game in the bottom of the first inning after singling up the middle. Francesca Lumpp added a hit to move Brown to second, however were left stranded to close the frame.
•       DePaul got on the board first as Reily Pool reached home on an RBI single up the middle from Carly Alvers in the top of the fifth inning. The Blue Demons continued to extend their lead as Kali Blouts doubled to left field sending in Alvers and Cosgrove. DePaul added one more run to close the top of the fifth frame.
•       Madison Berner recorded her third double of the season for the Tigers to open the bottom of the sixth frame. Berner reached third but was unable to round all the bases.
•       The Blue Demons put up one more run as Blouts fired off her second double to the game to advance Alvers to third, who ended up scoring off an RBI ground out by Bibianna Rodriguez.

NOTABLES

•       Six Tigers recorded hits: Presley Morris, Kennedy Semien, Zoe Adebayo, Brown, Lumpp and Berner.
•       Berner recorded her third double of the season.
•       Taniyah Brown got the start in the circle going 4.0 innings. Abigail Morgan came in as relief for the final 3.0 innings and recorded two strikeouts.

Memphis 2, Tennessee Tech 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

•       Berner recorded the first hit of the game for the Tigers, singling to the gap in left centerfield in the bottom of the first inning. Khamiyah Brown shot off a single to left field moving Berner into scoring position.
•       Memphis loaded the bases after Adebayo was hit by pitch, however, came up empty handed to close the first fame.
•       The Tigers took the lead early as Aubrey Williams doubled to the right field wall sending Kennedy Semien in for the score in the bottom of the second inning. Memphis followed up with another run as Williams reached home on an error from center field.
•       Tennessee Tech cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth frame as Abby Shoulders scored on a single through the middle.
•       Adebayo shot off the ball to the center field wall, earning a stand up double in the bottom of the fifth inning. She would be left stranded at second to close out the inning.
•       Memphis held strong defensively in the final two innings to secure the win, going three and out the top of the seventh with Williams playing a role in each of the final three plays.

NOTABLES

•       Seven Tigers recorded hits: Arianna Cox-Cole, LaNya Bates, Brown, Berner, Williams, Semien and Adebayo.
•       Cox-Cole and Williams recorded the two RBI in the game.
•       Rylee Dugar got the start in the circle going 3.2 innings with two strikeouts.
•       Abigail Morgan entered as relief and closed out the game going 3.2 innings with one strikeout.


UP NEXT

•       The Tigers will host Jackson State and UT Martin in the 901 Classic March 1-3.

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.