University of Memphis Athletics

Photo by: Steven Spehar
Two Tigers Homer in Friday Night Loss
May 01, 2026 | Softball
WICHITA, Kan. – The University of Memphis softball team fell to Wichita State by a score of 15-2 in five innings Friday night at Wilkins Stadium.
Memphis (18-37, 6-20 American) suffered its worst defeat in conference play after issuing a total of 11 walks to Wichita State (34-16, 20-6 American), with no Memphis individual Memphis pitcher recording more than four outs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Memphis' regular season finale is set for a noon start tomorrow with Pat Strathman on the call for the ESPN+ broadcast.
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.
Memphis (18-37, 6-20 American) suffered its worst defeat in conference play after issuing a total of 11 walks to Wichita State (34-16, 20-6 American), with no Memphis individual Memphis pitcher recording more than four outs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Tigers picked up an early lead in the first when Faith Brown turned an eight-pitch at-bat into a solo home run that hugged the right-field line.
- Wichita answered with five runs on three hits in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of three-straight walks to begin the frame.
- The Shockers added three in the second on an RBI triple and a pair of RBI doubles.
- Paris Brienesse singled to open the third but was thrown out on a 5-3 lineout double play in the following at-bat.
- Wichita State extended its lead with a pair of RBI hits in the third.
- A three-run home run, a fielding error and a sacrifice fly put the game further into mercy rule territory.
- Down to its final two outs, Memphis tacked on one run on a Deana Cunningham home run that cleared the left-field scoreboard.
- Kennedy Semien singled with two outs, but the next batter grounded out to end the game.
- Kennedy Semien singled with two outs, but the next batter grounded out to end the game.
- With Caton's home run in today's game, Memphis has just its third-ever season with 40-plus home runs, and the first since 2008.
- The Tigers have back-to-back seasons with 50-plus sacrifice hits for the first time since the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
- Last season's team finished with 52 and the 2026 lineup currently has 50 after tonight.
- The Tigers become the fifth team in Division I with at least 50 sacrifice hits.
- Memphis has tied the single-season program record for hit-by-pitches with a 44th by Faith Brown in tonight's loss.
- The Tigers now have 154 walks on the season, the highest single-season total since drawing 160 in 2018.
- Memphis' now 209 RBI surpass last season's total and are the fourth-most in a season.
- Faith Brown was 1-for-2 in the contest with her team-leading ninth home run and 38th RBI of the season.
- Her now 38 RBI are tied for the third-most in single-season program history, tying Leila Dolfo's mark in 2006.
- Deana Cunningham recorded her 24th RBI of her first season with the Tigers on her third home run of the year.
- Cunningham has reached base safely in Memphis' last 14 games, the longest streak of the season.
- Ariel Davis extended her active hitting streak to eight games with one hit in tonight's loss.
- Paris Brienesse was 1-for-2 on the night with a hard-hit single up the middle.
- Brienesse remains fourth on the team with 35 hits on the year.
- Kennedy Semien picked up a hit in her lone plate appearance after entering as a defensive replacement.
- The hit was Semien's 97th of her collegiate career.
- Taylor Caton reached once on a walk.
Memphis' regular season finale is set for a noon start tomorrow with Pat Strathman on the call for the ESPN+ broadcast.
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sliger, Ava (9-1)
L: Brown, Taniyah (2-4)

Batting:
HR: Cunningham, Deana 1 ; Brown, Faith 1
RBI: Cunningham, Deana 1 ; Brown, Faith 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cunningham, Deana 1 ; Brown, Faith 1

Batting:
2B: Allen, Trinity 2 ; Schroeder, Johnna 1 ; Shuman, Aeryn 1
3B: Allen, Trinity 1
HR: Moore, Ausha 1
RBI: Livanec, Brookelyn 1 ; Epperson, Jodie 1 ; Allen, Trinity 4 ; Moore, Ausha 3 ; Rooney, Mackenzie 1 ; Schroeder, Johnna 2 ; Shuman, Aeryn 1
SF: Livanec, Brookelyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Epperson, Jodie 1 ; Allen, Trinity 4 ; Moore, Ausha 2 ; Rooney, Mackenzie 1 ; Schroeder, Johnna 1 ; Shuman, Aeryn 1 ; Smith, Kammie 2 ; Woody, Kinzey 3
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