MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (3-5) softball team picked up one win in the final contests of the 901 Classic in walk-off fashion, with stats from a second game against Kansas City not counting due to weather.
Memphis erased a three-run deficit to earn a walk-off win against the Aces and built a 13-4 lead in three innings against Kansas City before weather ruled it a no game.
GAME ONE: Memphis 8, Evansville 7
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Aces, playing in their second game of the day, quickly jumped out to a lead with three runs in the first inning on an RBI single and a two-RBI hit by Brooke Voss.
Memphis answered with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning with a two-RBI single by Kennedy Semien and Paris Brienesse scoring on an error.
Evansville retook the lead with an RBI double off the bat of Jess Willsey, the second-consecutive double in the inning.
They added to their lead with a sacrifice fly and RBI single to take a three-run lead.
Memphis cut the deficit to two with an RBI groundout by Ariel Davis in the fourth inning.
A solo home run off the bat of Evansville’s Maliyah Wilkins pushed the difference back to three.
The Tigers answered back with a bases-loaded RBI single by Kylie Waldrep.
Waldrep entered as a pinch hitter for that at-bat.
Jericho Tate entered the game in the seventh inning, inducing three quick outs in relief of Jazmine Chavez and keeping the deficit at two going into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Memphis caused chaos on the base paths and forced Evansville to make two crucial errors after putting runners on first and second with walks.
A Faith Brown groundball was mishandled by Jess Willsey of Evansville, allowing Kennedy Semien to score from second.
Brown then stole second, with an errant throw leading to Jasmine Mack scoring from third to tie the game.
With one out and a runner on second base, Deana Cunningham delivered with a walk-off RBI single to left field to bring Brown home for the game-winning run.
It was the first walk-off hit of Cunningham’s career.
Tate earned the win in the circle after tossing a scoreless seventh.
GAME TWO: Memphis 13, Kansas City 4 (Ruled a No Game; Stats Do Not Count)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Kansas City stole momentum with two runs in each of the first and second innings.
The top of the second inning included a 28-minute weather delay.
All of Memphis’ 13 runs before the game was called came in the bottom of the second inning with Kylie Waldrep, Taylor Caton, Marley Maness, Taniyah Brown, Kennedy Semien, Deana Cunningham and Paris Brienesse recording RBI in the frame.
Had the game counted, it would’ve been the second-highest single-inning run total of the Trena Prater era (record is 16 runs, second inning vs. Mississippi Valley State).
The game entered another weather delay prior to the beginning of the fourth inning. After attempts to make the surface playable, the game was called, ruling it a no game with no statistics from the contest counting.
NOTABLES
Memphis’ win over Evansville was its first walk-off win of the season.
The Tigers only had two true walk-off victories in the 2025 season against Hampton and UAB.
Four qualified hitters (Ariel Davis, Mya Clark, Kennedy Semien, Kylie Waldrep) hold an OPS above the 1.000 mark.
Kennedy Semien logged a hit, run scored and two RBI against Evansville.
She is currently the team’s leader in batting average (.368) among qualified hitters and has a team-leading seven RBI.
Deana Cunningham was 2-for-3 in the walk-off victory with the game-winning RBI.
Kylie Waldrep knocked in her third RBI of the season with her second hit as a Tiger.
Ariel Davis drew a walk and logged an RBI groundout in the win.
Memphis featured four arms in the circle in the win, with Taylor Caton, Taniyah Brown, Jazmine Chavez and Jericho Tate combining for four strikeouts, with one apiece.
Chavez and Tate each tossed a scoreless inning in relief.
Tate earned her first win of the season, entering in the seventh inning and holding Evansville scoreless before the Tiger offense walked it off.
If Memphis’ game against Kansas City had counted, it would’ve been the second 10-plus run performance of the season, compared to having four in all of the 2025 season.
UP NEXT
With the final day of the 901 Classic cancelled due to weather, Memphis will now look toward a midweek nonconference matchup against a ranked Southeastern Conference opponent in Mississippi State. The game will take place on Wednesday before the Tigers host the Blues City Invitational in the coming weekend with games against Kentucky, North Carolina A&T, Bradley and Indiana State.
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.