Late-Inning Rally Comes Up Short as Memphis Falls to North Alabama

Wednesday, March 12

Memphis, Tenn.

5 PM

University of Memphis

12-14

North Alabama

19-5

North Alabama

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Late-Inning Rally Comes Up Short as Memphis Falls to North Alabama

Mar 12, 2025 | Softball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Tigers (12-14, 1-2 AAC) softball dropped its midweek contest against North Alabama (19-5, 0-0 ASUN) by a score of 8-5.

HOW IT HAPPENED

North Alabama took advantage of an early error by the Memphis defense, plating four runs in the first inning.
- The Lions' first run came on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded.
- North Alabama's second run came on a passed ball.
- The final two runs of the inning were scored on RBI groundouts by Bayleigh Rouse and Jorja Roberson.
Briley Dover recorded an RBI single in the second inning to extend North Alabama's lead.
A botched first-and-third situation led to a rundown in which the Lions scored their sixth run of the contest.
Following a scoreless third inning, North Alabama turned to Emily Simon, who allowed the first run of the game for Memphis on a bases-loaded walk drawn by McKaylee Polk.
- Memphis left the bases loaded to end the inning as the next two batters recorded outs.
The Lions answered in the following frame with two runs of their own, coming on a two-RBI double by Natalie Shaw.
Zoe Adebayo lined a ball just of the reach of a diving Laura Leigh Wheeler in right field for an RBI triple, where she scored on the throw to cut North Alabama's lead to five runs.
A home run to deep left field by Arianna Cox-Cole to lead off the bottom of the sixth gave Memphis its fourth run of the competition.
In her fifth inning of relief, Rylee Dugar kept the Lions' lead at four runs.
Memphis appeared to show signs of a comeback after a fielding error, walk and single loaded the bases for Zoe Adebayo.
- Adebayo recorded a sacrifice fly to make the score 8-5.
Neely Taylor stepped up as the tying run and recorded a lineout to Bayleigh Rouse at third base, who applied the tag on Kennedy Semien for the game-ending double play.

NOTABLES

Kennedy Semien went 1-for-3 at the plate with one walk and one run scored.
- She currently leads the team in batting average (.392), hits (29), walks (15) and runs scored (24).
Zoe Adebayo recorded her ninth multi-hit game and seventh multi-RBI performance, both of which lead the Tigers.
- Adebayo also recorded her team-leading third triple of the season.
Arianna Cox-Cole recorded her first home run of the season, finishing 1-for-2 with a walk.
Ariel Davis finished 1-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt.
- She is currently tied with Kayla Clement for the team lead with five sacrifice bunts.
Neely Taylor made her team-leading 26th start, finishing with one hit.
Rylee Dugar finished her game with five innings in relief, only allowing two runs and allowing Memphis the opportunity to make a comeback.
From the third inning to the seventh inning, Memphis outscored North Alabama, 5-2.
North Alabama entered the game allowing less than two earned runs per game, but Memphis was able to score five runs, four of which were earned.

UP NEXT
Memphis will play its first home series of American Athletic Conference play against UTSA, with games slated for starts at 6 p.m., 3 p.m. and noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

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.