MEMPHIS, Tenn. – On the backs of two complete game wins in the circle, the University of Memphis (7-13) softball team will carry a two-game winning streak going into conference play after taking both games of a Tuesday doubleheader against Oakland (8-6).
The Tigers showed composure in the pair of one-run ballgames, winning by walk-off in the first and holding Oakland scoreless over the final six innings of the second game.
GAME ONE: Memphis 5, Oakland 4
HOW IT HAPPENED
Memphis started the game on a deficit as Oakland’s Autumn Liebhauser hit a home run on the fifth pitch of the game, pushing the Grizzlies out to an early lead.
It was the 10th home run allowed by Avery Stutts this season.
The Tigers responded by adding to their first inning run total with an RBI triple off the bat of Neely Taylor, followed by an RBI double by Faith Brown that brought Taylor home.
Paris Brienesse scored the first run after singling in the first pitch of her at-bat and coming home on Taylor’s triple.
Memphis extended to its lead with an RBI double from Paris Brienesse and Brienesse later scoring on a single up the middle by Ariel Davis.
An error on a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning led to Oakland’s second run as a possible double play ended with the ball in right field with Kamryn Troyer scoring.
A second error on the following play allowed Kayla Rodriguez to score, making the game 4-3 in favor of Memphis.
With a chance to add insurance runs in the fifth, Jasmine Mack stepped in as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded and popped out to the shortstop to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, a shot by Addison Kopp fell just shy of a diving Kennedy Semien, resulting in an RBI triple that tied the game.
After Avery Stutts completed the seventh inning by sending Oaklands batters down in order, Memphis manufactured offense and ended the game with a walk-off win.
Ariel Davis reached on a hit-by-pitch and made it to second on a wild pitch.
Faith Brown reached on a single while attempting Davis to third.
Mya Clark singled to the shortstop after no throw was attempted.
After Kylie Waldrep’s pinch-hit at-bat ended in a fielder’s choice, Kennedy Semien sent a shot down the right-field line, resulting in a walk-off single.
Avery Stutts earned her second win of the year, also coming in complete-game fashion with 81 pitches thrown and two strikeouts.
GAME TWO: Memphis 2, Oakland 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
As with the first game of the doubleheader, both sides put runs up in the first inning, beginning with a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kayla Turmell.
Memphis responded in the bottom half of the first with Ariel Davis’ fifth home run of the season.
The Tigers could have taken the lead on this swing, but a popped-up bunt resulted in a double play after Paris Brienesse led off the inning with a single.
The Tigers took the lead on what became the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by Faith Brown.
It marked Brown’s fifth career sacrifice fly, moving her into a seven-way tie for career sacrifice flies. She is one away from tying the program’s career record of six sacrifice flies, held by Brooke Lee and Leila Dolfo.
The Tigers displayed stellar defense in the fourth inning, as Aubrey Williams threw out a pinch runner after Oakland’s Kenna Bommarito singled and was run for.
Memphis also ended the inning when the Grizzlies’ Storm Kentros attempted to advance to third on a missed diving play in the outfield and was thrown out to end the inning.
The final nine Oakland batters went down in order, resulting in a complete game victory for Jericho Tate.
NOTABLES
Four of Memphis’ games have resulted in a walk-off scenario, and the Tigers sit at an even 2-2 in those competitions.
Paris Brienesse was 4-for-7 on the day with a double, RBI and three runs scored.
She moves into the team lead in batting average, now sitting at .400 on the season.
Kennedy Semien finished 3-for-6 at the plate with one RBI, coming on her first career walk-off hit.
She is also the first Tiger to reach 10 walks on the season.
Faith Brown continued to succeed in her opportunities with a two-double, two-RBI performance today.
Ariel Davis was 3-for-6 on the day with a solo home run for her fifth of the season.
She is already two home runs away from a top-10 home run season and five away from matching last season’s home run leader (Zoe Adebayo; 10).
Neely Taylor finished the day with two hits, including an RBI triple in the first game of the afternoon.
The triple was Taylor’s third of her career.
Deana Cunningham laid down a sacrifice bunt in the first game of the day for her seventh of the year.
Cunningham is two sacrifice hits shy of finding herself in the top 10 in single-season program history.
Zereniti Sousa reached twice against Oakland, being hit by a pitch on both occasions in the same game.
It was the third time a player has been hit twice in the same game this season, with both prior occurrences being Kylie Waldrep.
In the circle, Avery Stutts recorded an 81-pitch complete game victory.
Both of her wins this season have come by way of the complete game.
Jericho Tate also picked up her second win of the season, throwing just 72 pitches in a complete-game performance with three strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Memphis is set for the opening weekend of American Conference play, hosting South Florida this weekend with start times of 5 p.m., 2 p.m. and 11 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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.