Tigers Notch a Walk Off Win in Split Day One of Tiger Classic

Friday, March 10

Memphis, Tenn.

4 p.m.

University of Memphis

4-16

Indiana State

7-9

Indiana State

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Tigers Notch a Walk Off Win in Split Day One of Tiger Classic

Mar 10, 2023 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Tiger softball team split day one of the Tiger Classic with a walk off win over Indiana State and dropping a 6-1 loss to North Alabama.

"I really think in game one we showed a lot of fight and we really competed. I felt that this is the first time all year that we didn't look at the score board and that we were really just in the game and were able to find a way to win." Said head coach Stephanie VanBrakle Prothro. "I think that's a positive step or us moving in the right direction especially with us talking about the process and competing in every at-bat. I'm really proud of the last six hitters in that inning, especially for Neely [Taylor] to come through at the end."

We've got to keep plugging away and keep trusting that process and keep competing and keep sticking with it. We've got a lot of young athletes and we're just learning and growing through this, so we're going to keep talking about it and keep trying and competing." Said VanBrakle Prothro.

Indiana State 9, Memphis 10

HOW IT HAPPENED

Indiana State struck first scoring on three straight at-bats, Tokerek leading the charge with a single up the middle sending Patton across home in the top of the first inning. The Sycamores added one more run before the end of the inning.
Aliana Zavala hit a three-run homerun, her fourth homerun of the season, batting in Sam Ibison and Kendall Lee in the bottom of the first inning.
Indiana State loaded the bases in the top of the third inning before hitting a pop fly to the pitcher, leaving three runners on base.
Taylor Smrt hit her first homerun of season to center field, tying the Tigers up 4-4 in the bottom of the third inning.
E'mya Munford recorded the Tigers' third homerun of the game, and her first of the season, smashing the ball to left field, bringing in Zavala, in the bottom of the third inning.
The Sycamores rallied in the top of the fifth inning as Barrett hit a three-run homerun to left field, raking back the lead 7-6.
Indiana State added two more runs to the lead as Barrett recorded a two-run double to deep center field in the top of the seventh inning.
The Tigers added a run in the bottom of the seventh as Lee hit a double to center field, allowing Ibison to run home, cutting the lead to 9-7.
Memphis tied the game up at 9-9 as Meagan Chism hit a two-run single to left field in the bottom of the seventh with two outs. Taylor ended the game with a walk off single up the center sending Munford home for the Tiger win.

NOTABLES

Memphis recorded its first walk off win of the season along with most runs and RBIs in a game, with 10 each, on the season.
The Tigers recorded 3 homeruns from Zavala, Smrt and Munford, the most in a game this season.
Six Tigers recorded RBIs against the Sycamores: Zavala (3), Munford (2), Chism (2), Smrt (1), Lee (1) and Taylor (1).
Zavala leads the team with 11 RBIs and four homeruns on the season.
Smrt went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Ibison went 3-for-4 recording two runs in the appearance.
Hallie Siems got the start going 7.0 innings and recorded seven strikeouts.

North Alabama 6, Memphis 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

Presley Morris hit a single to the pitcher and advanced to second on a throwing error from North Alabama in the bottom of the second. Morris would go on to score first for the Tigers on a single to the shortstop by Ibison.
North Alabama added two runs on back-to-back at-bats in the top of the third inning to take the lead 2-1.
Chism and Morris would make a big play to close the top of the third inning as Bevis was caught stealing at third base on a wild pitch.
The Lions would tally a one-run double down the right field line from Benton in the top of the fourth inning. UNA would add two more runs before Frame was thrown out at home to end the top of the fourth inning.
UNA recorded another run. Frame stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the shortstop. Frame then reached home off a single to center field by Bevis.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Ibison went 1-for-2 with one RBI, both Taylor and Lee went 2-for-3 and Morris recorded one run.
Mikayla Hoschak got the start going 5.2 innings and recording one strikeout. Rylee Dugar relieved Hoschak in the top of the sixth inning, going 1.1 innings and recording one strikeouts.

UP NEXT

The Tigers will go up against Indiana State at 2 p.m. and Pitt at 4:40 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, in the Tigers Classic.

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.