Tigers Drop Pair of Narrow Losses at Middle Tennessee

Wednesday, April 22

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

2 p.m.

University of Memphis

17-32

Middle Tennessee

18-26

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Memphis	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	4	1
Middle Tenn.	0	0	0	0	0	4	1	5	9	2

Photo by: Steven Spehar

Tigers Drop Pair of Narrow Losses at Middle Tennessee

Apr 22, 2026 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The University of Memphis softball team dropped a pair of one-score games in a Wednesday doubleheader at Middle Tennessee.

Memphis (17-33, 5-16 American) gained early leads in both games before falling late to Middle Tennessee (19-26, 5-16 CUSA), including by one walk-off hit.

GAME ONE: Memphis 4, Middle Tennessee 5

HOW IT HAPPENED

Memphis sprung out to an early lead with a ball off the bat of Taylor Caton bringing home two runs in the first.
- Ariel Davis and Faith Brown scored on the play after reaching on a walk and a single, respectively.
Taylor Caton picked up a pair of strikeouts in the bottom of the first in her first inning in the circle.
- Freshman Jaila Mitchell also made a diving catch in the inning.
After three scoreless innings from both sides, Ariel Davis brought the shared scoring drought with an RBI double to bring Jaila Mitchell around to score.
- In the bottom half of the fifth, Memphis escaped a jam when Jasmine Mack caught a runner attempting to steal third.
Middle Tennessee took its first lead in the sixth inning with four runs on a home run, a pair of RBI singles and an RBI double.
Down to its final out, Deana Cunningham sent a single through the left side to bring Isabella Hune around to score, who evaded a tag at the plate, to tie the game at four runs apiece.
After being one out away from extra innings, Middle Tennessee's Ansley Blevins hit a walk-off home run to give the Blue Raiders a win in the first half of the doubleheader.

GAME TWO: Memphis 6, Middle Tennessee 7

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Tigers scored in the first inning again on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Faith Brown.
- The sacrifice fly was the ninth of Brown's career, putting her one away from tying the program record, held by Gracie Morton.
Memphis extended its lead in the second with a two-run home run by Taylor Caton, her third of the season.
The Blue Raiders matched Memphis' second inning run total on a pair of solo home runs.
Memphis pushed out ahead by four runs with three coming home in the third inning.
- Faith Brown snapped a stretch of five games without a home run to hit her team-leading eighth of the season to bring in two runs.
- Zereniti Sousa picked up an RBI on a bunt single to give Memphis a four-run lead.
- A pair of Tigers, Jasmine Mack and Deana Cunningham, each logged a triple in the inning.
Middle Tennessee matched Memphis' output for a second-straight inning with the runs on an RBI single and a two-run home run.
A Memphis fielding error in the fourth inning allowed the tying run to score for Middle Tennessee, knotting the game up at six runs apiece.
After a leadoff double by Isabella Hune, the Blue Raiders snuffed out the threat with a 7-5 double play to catch Hune attempting to advance.
A sacrifice fly in the sixth inning by Middle Tennessee's Adaeze Nwogbo broke the tie.
Memphis' final three batters went down in order in the seventh.

NOTABLES

The doubleheader resulted in the first two games Memphis has lost on the road against Middle Tennessee.
In each of Memphis' last three games against the Blue Raiders, the Tigers have lost by one run.
- Memphis is now 6-8 in games decided by one run.
Memphis has now tallied 46 sacrifice hits on the season, tied for the eight-most in program history.
With two more triples in the doubleheader, Memphis' 16 team triples lead the American and would rank 15^th in the NCAA.
Memphis' now 37 hit-by-pitches rank 40^th in the nation.
Memphis' 58 doubles as a team are tied for the sixth-most in single-season program history.
The 2026 Memphis team moves into third in single-season sacrifice flies with its 15^th today.
With 38 home runs on the season, Memphis' current total is the fourth-most in single-season history.
The Tigers have also moved into the top-10 in multiple single-season marks; hits (352; 9^th), runs (227; T-6^th), RBI (198; 8^th), total bases (556; 4^th) and walks (139; 10^th).
Faith Brown went 2-for-5 in the doubleheader with a home run, three RBI and a sacrifice fly, while also drawing a walk.
- Brown is now one sacrifice fly away from setting the program record, held by Gracie Morton.
- Also with five sacrifice flies on the season, Brown ties the single-season sacrifice fly record, previously set by Brooke Lee in 2018.
- Brown's 36 RBI are one shy of last year's leader (Zoe Adebayo) and are tied for the sixth-most in a season in program history.
- After hitting her eighth home run of the season, Brown sits tied for seventh in single-season home runs.
Taylor Caton went 3-for-6 with a two-run home run and a walk in the doubleheader, also striking out six batters over five innings in the circle.
- Caton is one strikeout shy of joining fellow freshman, Avery Stutts, as the only pitchers on staff with at least 40 strikeouts.
Deana Cunningham was 3-for-5 on the day with a triple and an RBI, also laying down a sacrifice.
- Her three triples are tied for the 10^th-most in single-season program history and tied for the team lead with Jasmine Mack, who tripled in the same inning.
- Cunningham's nine sacrifice hits are tied for 11^th-most in single-season history.
Isabella Hune had a pair of hits in the doubleheader, including a double, scoring twice on the day and recording one sacrifice hit.
Zereniti Sousa went 2-for-3 with an RBI bunt single in the loss.
Jasmine Mack logged one hit, a triple, in the doubleheader, along with logging her second sacrifice hit of the season.
- Her three triples are tied for the 10^th-most in single-season program history and tied for the team lead with Deana Cunningham, who tripled in the same inning.
Ariel Davis went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored.
- The double gave Davis 10 on the season, putting her in a tie with Neely Taylor for the team lead.
Neely Taylor recorded her 10^th double of the season in the loss.
Jaila Mitchell reached once on a hit-by-pitch and scored.

UP NEXT

Memphis returns home to host Florida Atlantic (29-17, 10-11 American) in the Tigers' final home games of the season, with senior day set for Sunday.

SINGLE GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Single-game tickets are on sale for the 2026 season. Ticket prices will vary based on seat location (standing room only or reserved bleachers), denoted by a color-coded wristband.

Tickets will be free for all current University of Memphis students. Up to two fans ages 17 and under will be allowed free admission per paid adult that enters with them. Please note that tickets for children ages 17 and under will be for the standing room only section. Reserved seating tickets must be purchased if adults would like them to have a seat in the bleachers.

As a reminder, fans are not permitted to bring umbrellas into the venue and Tigers Softball Complex has a clear bag policy.

Tickets can be purchased using THIS LINK.

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.