Sixth-Inning Rally Pushes Memphis Past Bethune-Cookman

Wednesday, April 23

Daytona Beach, Fla.

4 PM

University of Memphis

17-30

Bethune-Cookman

19-27

Memphis

Bethune-Cookman

Photo by: Steven Spehar

Sixth-Inning Rally Pushes Memphis Past Bethune-Cookman

Apr 23, 2025 | Softball

Box Score

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Memphis (17-30, 4-17 AAC) softball snapped a six-game losing streak with an 8-3 victory over Bethune-Cookman (19-27, 12-8 SWAC), Wednesday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Memphis jumped out to a quick two-run lead after an RBI single off the bat of Zoe Adebayo, who would also score after a sacrifice fly by Drue Thomas.
The Wildcats answered with two runs in the bottom half of the frame on an RBI groundout by Briana Velazquez and a wild pitch.
The Tigers regained the lead with back-to-back doubles by Ariel Davis and Zoe Adebayo, with Davis scoring Memphis' third run of the contest.
In the bottom of the third inning, Memphis got out of a situation with a runner in scoring position by picking off Joslynn Davis at second base.
Bethune-Cookman knotted the game at three runs apiece with a sacrifice fly off the bat of Molly Blackwood.
Memphis took a commanding lead in the sixth inning with five runs coming across to score.
- The scoring began with Drue Thomas's second sacrifice fly of the game.
- Aubrey Williams executed a safety squeeze, scoring Zoe Adebayo.
- Williams scored during the next at-bat when Kennedy Semien doubled off the left field wall.
- The Tigers had their second set of back-to-back RBI doubles as Lyrical Bennett followed up Semien's double with one of her own.
- An RBI single by Marley Maness allowed Presley Morris to score.
  - Maness had entered as a pinch hitter and Morris entered as a pinch runner.
After five innings in the circle by Jericho Tate, Taniyah Brown and Rylee Dugar each threw a scoreless inning to end the game and earn the victory.

NOTABLES

With its 17th win of the season, Memphis now has its highest season win total since the 2019 season.
Jericho Tate moves to 3-6 on the season after throwing five innings in the win.
Ariel Davis finished the nonconference game with two hits in three at-bats with a double and walk drawn.
- Her season batting average moves to .302, good for fourth on the team.
Zoe Adebayo went 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and two RBI against the Wildcats.
- Adebayo recorded her 10th multi-hit and 10th multi-RBI performances of the season.
Aubrey Williams had her second multi-hit game of the season, tallying two hits, one RBI and one run scored.
Drue Thomas finished in a tie with Adebayo for most RBI in the contest with two after recording two sacrifice flies.
Kennedy Semien went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, her ninth of the season.
In her fourth appearance as the designated player, Lyrical Bennett recorded an RBI double in the victory.
Marley Maness entered as a pinch hitter and recorded an RBI single.

UP NEXT
Memphis finishes its road stand in Florida with a three-game series against RV Florida Atlantic, with start times of 5 p.m., 1 p.m. and 11 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively. All times are central and all 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.