Memphis Defeats Central Arkansas in Extra-Inning Thriller

Wednesday, March 5

Conway, Ark.

5 PM

University of Memphis

11-11

Central Arkansas

8-11

Memphis

Central Arkansas

Photo by: Steven Spehar

Memphis Defeats Central Arkansas in Extra-Inning Thriller

Mar 05, 2025 | Softball

Box Score

CONWAY, Ark. – Memphis Tigers softball secured an extra-inning win against Central Arkansas on Wednesday. After Memphis out to an early lead, Central Arkansas came back to force extra innings, where Zoe Adebayo had the game-deciding home run.

HOW IT HAPPENED

McKaylee Polk gave Memphis an early spark with an RBI triple to score Kennedy Semien, who singled to lead off the game.
- Polk would score on a wild pitch during the next at-bat.
The Bears recorded their first run in the first inning on an RBI single by Kaitlyn Graham that hit off the pitcher's glove to bring Addie Graham home.
Both sides went scoreless in the second inning.
McKaylee Polk continued her strong start to the evening with an RBI single to score Kayla Clement.
- After the run scored, Polk was thrown out at second to end the inning.
Central Arkansas answered in the bottom half of the third inning with an RBI single by Lilly Hood to cut Memphis' lead to just one.
With a runner in scoring position, Memphis executed a 7-4 double play when Arianna Cox-Cole caught a line drive and threw out Emma Veach at second base as she strayed off the base.
In the fifth inning, Memphis added another run to its total when Kennedy Semien drew a bases-loaded walk.
The Tigers plated two more runs in the top of the fifth inning when Zoe Adebayo singled up the middle.
- After the two runs scored, Kennedy Semien was thrown out while trying to advance to third.
The Bears did not allow Memphis to keep full control of the momentum, plating a run on Lilly Hood's second RBI single of the night.
After both sides went scoreless in the sixth inning, Central Arkansas strung together multiple productive at-bats with Renee Christian bringing a run in on a fielder's choice.
With two outs in the inning, Kylie Griffin reached on an error by Presley Morris that allowed two runs to come home, tying the game at six runs apiece.
In the first at-bat of the inning, Zoe Adebayo worked a full count and sent her fifth home run of the year to deep left center, giving Memphis the lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, Lyrical Bennett finished her complete game performance by sitting the Central Arkansas hitters down in order.
- Kennedy Semien had a highlight catch in center field that was reviewed and confirmed as a catch for the second out.
Bennett pitched a complete game, going eight innings in the circle, throwing 174 pitches.
- It was the first complete game of her Memphis career.

NOTABLES

Three Tigers (Kennedy Semien, Taniyah Brown, Zoe Adebayo) enter American Athletic Conference play with a season OPS above 1.000.
It was Memphis' first extra-inning victory of the season.
- The Tigers were 0-3 in extra-inning contests coming into today's game.
With Lyrical Bennett's complete game, every member of the Tiger pitching staff has thrown a complete game this season.
Neely Taylor made her 22nd start of the season and continues to be the only Tiger to have started every game this season.
Memphis' 11 wins prior to conference play are the most since 2022 when the Tigers had 12 wins before playing their first conference game.
Zoe Adebayo's home run was the fifth of the season for the senior, setting a new-single season high.
- It is the most in a season since 2021 when Alyssa Dean finished her season with six home runs, and Kendall Lee and Brady Rowland had five during that same season.

UP NEXT
The Tigers begin American Athletic Conference play on the road against Tulsa this coming weekend. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+ with start times of 5 p.m., 2 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.