Timely Hitting Leads Tigers to Comeback Victory over Wichita State

Friday, May 2

Memphis, Tenn.

6 PM

University of Memphis

18-33, 5-20

Wichita State

26-24-1, 13-11-1

Wichita State

Memphis

Timely Hitting Leads Tigers to Comeback Victory over Wichita State

May 02, 2025 | Softball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A combination of timely hitting and effective pitching by Rylee Dugar resulted in Memphis (18-33, 5-20 AAC) softball earning a 4-3 win over Wichita State (26-24-1, 13-11-1 AAC) at Tigers Softball Complex, Friday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The game began with three scoreless frames, as Ryley Nihart and Rylee Dugar found themselves in a pitchers' duel.
- The pair only allowed three hits through the first three innings.
Wichita State took the lead with a three-run fourth inning.
- The first two runs of the inning came on a two-run home run by Jodie Epperson that curved around the left-field foul pole.
- The third run came home after a bunt single by Sami Hood, where a throwing error allowed Brookelyn Livanec to score on the play.
The Tigers brought home their first run in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double by Zoe Adebayo.
- The play was reviewed after Wichita State appealed that Ariel Davis did not touch home plate. After originally granting the appeal, the play was overturned after it was deemed that Davis did touch home plate.
After another scoreless frame by Dugar, The Tigers plated three runs in the fifth inning to take a one-run lead.
- After a lead-off walk by Marley Maness, Presley Morris laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Maness to second. Maness later advanced to third on a wild pitch.
- The next batter, Kennedy Semien, also drew a walk and stole second base.
- After a popout for the second out of the inning, Zoe Adebayo was walked to load the bases.
- With the bases loaded, Drue Thomas lined a single up the middle, bringing home two runs and tying the game at three runs apiece.
- In the following at-bat, Arianna Cox-Cole also singled up the middle, scoring Adebayo on the play to give Memphis a one-run lead.
In the final two innings, Rylee Dugar retired six consecutive batters to end the game and earn the complete-game victory.
- Dugar did not allow a hit over the final three innings of the game.

NOTABLES

The win snaps a 17-game losing streak against Wichita State dating back to the 2018 season.
Rylee Dugar moves to 6-10 on the season with the victory in her fourth complete game of the season.
Zoe Adebayo moves into the team lead in doubles with her 11th of the season.
- She went 1-for-2 in the contest and was the first Tiger to be intentionally walked this season.
- Her 11 doubles are the most since 2019 and her 24 extra-base hits are the most by a Tiger since the 2007 season.
Kennedy Semien reached on a walk and was the game-tying run in Memphis' three-run fifth inning.
- It was her team-leading 35th run scored.
Ariel Davis went 1-for-3 at the plate with one run scored.
Drue Thomas finished the game with one hit, a two-RBI single that tied the game in the fifth inning.
Arianna Cox-Cole had the eventual game-deciding RBI single and reached on a walk.
Marley Maness went 1-for-2, also drawing a walk to begin Memphis' three-run inning.

UP NEXT
The Tigers look to secure their second series victory of the season with game two of their series against Wichita State scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.

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.