Memphis Quells UAB Comeback to Advance to Second Round of AAC Tournament

Wednesday, May 7

Tampa, Fla.

Noon

University of Memphis

19-35

UAB

24-31

Memphis

UAB

Photo by: Ben Solomon

Memphis Quells UAB Comeback to Advance to Second Round of AAC Tournament

May 07, 2025 | Softball

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. – Memphis (19-35) softball advanced to the second round of the American Athletic Conference Tournament with a 6-5 win over seventh-seeded UAB (24-31).

After putting up four runs in the top of the seventh, the Tigers held off a late comeback by the Blazers, with Jericho Tate getting the final out for her first career save.

HOW IT HAPPENED

In their first at-bats of the tournament, the Tigers were out to a quick two-run lead on two RBI singles.
- The first run came off the bat of Taniyah Brown in her first at-bat since February 28.
- Kennedy Semien followed Brown in the order and plated the second run with an RBI single.
UAB cut the deficit in half with a bases-loaded RBI single by Lindsey Smith.
From the second inning to the sixth inning, both sides were held scoreless.
- Shelby Durbin helped Memphis out of the second inning by picking off Bella Wiggins at first for the final out of the frame.
- In the fifth inning, Ashlyn Shirah threw out Durbin as she was attempting to advance to third on a single by Arianna Cox-Cole.
- In the bottom of the fifth inning, Shelby Durbin caught Bella Wiggins on the bases again, this time attempting to steal second.
Rylee Dugar worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning, inducing two flyouts to end the scoring chance.
The Memphis offense gave Dugar four insurance runs in the seventh inning.
- After a single by Kennedy Semien, followed by a sacrifice bunt with a throwing error off the bat of Ariel Davis, Shelby Durbin doubled to left center to bring Semien home.
- Davis scored two batters later when Arianna Cox-Cole reached on an RBI bunt single.
- After Cox-Cole stole second, Kayla Clement singled just inside of the left field line to bring Davis home.
- The following play was an RBI groundout off the bat of Drue Thomas.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Blazers brought four runs across, taking advantage of an error and putting themselves in a position to tie or win the game.
- After two outs and two walks, a fielding error plated two runs for UAB.
- An RBI single by Makenzie Droddy cut the lead to three runs.
- Jericho Tate entered with a chance to get the one-out save and gave up an RBI single to Alyssa Aguilar to make it a one-run game.
The final batter of the game, Britt Bourgoyne, grounded out with runners at first and third.

NOTABLES

Memphis has won its first AAC Tournament game since the 2018 season and now holds a 3-10 record in postseason competitions in the AAC.
Rylee Dugar earns her seventh win of the season, going 6.2 innings in her first postseason win of her Tiger career.
Jericho Tate earned her first collegiate save, recording the final out in the victory.
Arianna Cox-Cole went 2-for-4 in the contest, with one RBI, one run scored and one stolen base.
- It was Cox-Cole's team-leading 19th stolen base of the season.
Kennedy Semien was one of three Tigers with a multi-hit performance in the victory, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Drue Thomas reached on a walk and recorded an RBI groundout in Memphis' first at-bats of the game.
Zoe Adebayo went 1-for-4 and now holds the team lead in hits with 43 on the season.
Taniyah Brown went 1-for-3 with an RBI in her first at-bats since February 28 vs. Tarleton State.
Ariel Davis was held without a hit, but recorded a run scored after reaching on her team-leading 10th sacrifice bunt of the year.
Kayla Clement had one hit in the one, an RBI single in Memphis' four-run seventh inning.
Shelby Durbin was 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI double.

UP NEXT
Memphis advances to the second round, where they will face sixth-seeded East Carolina at 6 p.m. CST later this evening.

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.