Memphis Falls to Kennesaw State in I-75 Challenge Opener

Friday, February 21

Kennesaw, Ga.

2 PM

University of Memphis

8-4

Kennesaw State

4-8

Memphis

Kennesaw State

Photo by: Steven Spehar

Memphis Falls to Kennesaw State in I-75 Challenge Opener

Feb 21, 2025 | Softball

Box Score

KENNESAW, Ga. – Memphis softball fell to Kennesaw State, 5-3, on the first day of the I-75 Challenge Friday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Kennesaw State struck first in the second frame at Bailey Park. Jojo Johnson singled up the middle to score Ava Strickland.
Memphis has runners on first and second in the top of the fourth inning and McKaylee Polk nearly scored two on a shot down the left field line.
- After it was ruled a foul ball, Polk grounded out to end the inning.
The Owls came up in the following half-inning, where Emma Brinkman sent pinch runner Madison Miller home on a single.
Owls starter Leah Jannakos pitched five scoreless innings, recording three strikeouts.
- She was relieved in the sixth inning by Kenley Hilleary.
With Hilleary in the circle, the Tigers' bats got hot, with McKaylee Polk recording an RBI double to score Taniyah Brown.
Polk scored on the next play when Arianna Cox-Cole lined a shot back up the middle to tie the game at two runs apiece.
Kennesaw State came back in the bottom of the sixth, putting up three runs. Ty Hardeman roped a two-RBI double.
- Hardeman would later score on a Hannah Harvey triple to make the score 5-2 in favor of the Owls.
The Tigers attempted to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh, with Taniyah Brown bringing a runner home on a fielder's choice.
- Kennesaw State's starter, Leah Jannakos, reentered in the seventh inning for the save opportunity. With her earning the save, Kenley Hilleary earned the victory in the circle.

NOTABLES

Neely Taylor extended her streak, reaching base in 12 consecutive games.
- Taylor and Kennedy Semien are currently tied for the team lead in batting average at .457.
Four Tigers (Kennedy Semien, Neely Taylor, Zoe Adebayo, Taniyah Brown) have OPS marks above 1.000.
Despite outscoring opponents 95-42, Memphis has currently been outscored 6-4 in the seventh inning of games.

UP NEXT
Memphis continues the I-75 with a pair of games on Saturday, beginning with an 11 a.m. CST start against No. 24/RV Kentucky at Georgia Tech and finishing with a matchup against Dayton at 5 p.m. CST at Kennesaw 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.