University of Memphis Athletics
Friday, February 13
Memphis, Tenn.
5 p.m.
University of Memphis
vs
Ball State
Photo by: Steven Spehar
Memphis to Host 901 Classic, Fan Information Announced for This Weekend
Feb 12, 2026 | Softball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (2-3) softball team is set for its first home weekend of 2026 with the 901 Classic this weekend.
Over the 14-game slate, Memphis will host Ball State, Miami, Evansville, Kansas City and Southern Indiana, with each of those teams also playing games against each other throughout the Classic. Only Memphis' games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Memphis began its 2026 season with a tough slate in the Kajikawa Classic, earning two wins over Toledo before falling to Texas State, Northwestern and Arizona State, with the Arizona State game coming down to a walk-off hit by the Sun Devils.
Through the first weekend of the year, the Tigers have seen a balance of offensive production, led by American Conference honorable mentions, Ariel Davis and Mya Clark. Davis currently leads the team in hits (8), triples (2) and is tied for the team lead with four extra-base hits with Clark. Clark emerged with a strong debut in her first weekend as a Tiger, hitting a double, triple and two home runs while also earning her first collegiate victory in the circle.
Memphis also saw strong defensive performances from shortstop Deana Cunningham, Davis and first baseman Taylor Caton. Offensive production also came off the reliable bats of Kennedy Semien, Taniyah Brown and newcomer Paris Brienesse. Semien holds a team-best .500 batting average, Brown has three RBI and Brienesse holds a 1.600 OPS in limited at-bats.
In the circle, the Tigers featured six arms during the opening weekend, with Rylee Dugar pitching to a 1-1 record with one save while having a 3.50 ERA, best among qualified pitchers. Clark holds Memphis' only other win with a 1.75 ERA in her four-inning win against Toledo. Of Memphis' six pitchers, five have logged a strikeout and three have at least five with no one on the staff tossing more than 8.1 innings.
SCOUTING THE 901 CLASSIC
Ball State enters with a 2-3 record after playing in the FGCU Kickoff Classic. Both wins came by run rule over Long Island, with a 5-3 loss to American Conference team, Charlotte. Offensively, the Cardinals have three hitters above the .300 mark, led by Skylinn Pgoue at .467. Lindsey DeRoeck provided a large amount of Ball State's offense with 10 RBI during the first five games. In the circle, Gracy Gray and Bridie Murphy combined for 21.1 innings, with Grady carrying a 1-1 record with 12 strikeouts. Ella Whitney also sits at 1-1 in just 5.1 innings.
Miami comes into the Classic with the best record of the participants at 4-1, with wins over Minnesota, San Diego State and Loyola Chicago. The RedHawks, preseason favorites in the MAC, sit as the 10th-best mid major program according to D1Softball, and are led in the circle by reigning MAC Pitcher of the Week, Angelina Ricciardi. Ricciardi carried a 1.08 ERA across 13 innings with a 3-0 record and one save. Presley Hosick also provided meaningful innings for the RedHawks, tossing a team-high 16 strikeouts over 18 innings. Miami, a historically strong power-hitting team, has four hitters above .400 in average and five with an extra-base hit, led by Danitza Hernandez, who has two home runs and eight RBI thus far.
Evansville sits at 2-3 after its opening weekend in the Heart of Georgia Classic with both wins coming against Maine. The Purple Aces' first win over the Black Bears came in a 4-1 no-hit performance by Kate Ridgway. She has established herself as the team's ace early on with 22 strikeouts across 17.1 innings, logging at least seven strikeouts in each of her three appearances. At the plate, Jess Willsey leads the team with a .529 batting average and is tied with Eliza Piggott for the team lead with two home runs. Four different Aces have at least four RBI through one weekend of play.
The Kansas City Roos finished 2-3 in their first weekend of the season in the Doc Halverson Classic with wins against Northern Iowa and Butler. Offensively, the Roos are led by the pairing of Ella Husak and Megan Johnston, who a recurrently hitting .500 and .462, respectively. Kansas City has yet to hit a home run this season but has allowed seven. The Roos' pitching staff has seen three arms eat up a majority of the innings, with Delilah Roberts carrying a team-best 4.00 ERA with 11 strikeouts over 14 innings.
Southern Indiana enters the 901 Classic after going winless in the Alabama State Stinger Classic, dropping games to Nicholls, Northern Kentucky, Murray State and Alabama State. The Screaming Eagles are led offensively by Kate Satkoski, who holds a .444 average with a double and home run through the first weekend. In total, Southern Indiana's runs-scored ratio is 8-to-27. In the circle, three arms were used with Anna kemp tossing a team-leading 10 innings with nine strikeouts to a 2.80 ERA.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST THE FIELD
Memphis is 1-0 all time against Ball State, with the lone game in 2018 going as a 5-1 win.
The Tigers are winless in two games against Miami, with the most recent in 2012 being a 5-0 loss.
Memphis has a 1-1 record against each of Evansville and Kansas City, last playing the Purple Aces in 2020 and the Roos in 2018.
This will be the first all-time meeting between Memphis and Southern Indiana on the diamond.
FAN & MEDIA INFORMATION
Free parking for fans is available in Lot 63, located behind the left-field area of FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field. With possible inclement weather, fans are reminded that umbrellas are not permitted in the stadium. A clear bag policy is also in place with bags needing to meet the following standards:
Clear bags are limited to one per person. Exceptions to this policy will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection.
Press box space for media members is highly limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis with priority being given to those who reach out for accommodations. Please contact the softball athletic communications contact at least 24 hours in advance to best work out accomodations if possible.
SINGLE GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Single-game tickets are on sale for the 2026 season. Ticket prices will vary based on seat location (standing room only or reserved bleachers), with weekend tournaments offering day passes, denoted by a color-coded wristband.
Tickets will be free for all current University of Memphis students. Up to two fans ages 17 and under will be allowed free admission per paid adult that enters with them. Please note that tickets for children ages 17 and under will be for the standing room only section. Reserved seating tickets must be purchased if adults would like them to have a seat in the bleachers.
Tickets can be purchased using THIS LINK.
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.
Over the 14-game slate, Memphis will host Ball State, Miami, Evansville, Kansas City and Southern Indiana, with each of those teams also playing games against each other throughout the Classic. Only Memphis' games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Memphis began its 2026 season with a tough slate in the Kajikawa Classic, earning two wins over Toledo before falling to Texas State, Northwestern and Arizona State, with the Arizona State game coming down to a walk-off hit by the Sun Devils.
Through the first weekend of the year, the Tigers have seen a balance of offensive production, led by American Conference honorable mentions, Ariel Davis and Mya Clark. Davis currently leads the team in hits (8), triples (2) and is tied for the team lead with four extra-base hits with Clark. Clark emerged with a strong debut in her first weekend as a Tiger, hitting a double, triple and two home runs while also earning her first collegiate victory in the circle.
Memphis also saw strong defensive performances from shortstop Deana Cunningham, Davis and first baseman Taylor Caton. Offensive production also came off the reliable bats of Kennedy Semien, Taniyah Brown and newcomer Paris Brienesse. Semien holds a team-best .500 batting average, Brown has three RBI and Brienesse holds a 1.600 OPS in limited at-bats.
In the circle, the Tigers featured six arms during the opening weekend, with Rylee Dugar pitching to a 1-1 record with one save while having a 3.50 ERA, best among qualified pitchers. Clark holds Memphis' only other win with a 1.75 ERA in her four-inning win against Toledo. Of Memphis' six pitchers, five have logged a strikeout and three have at least five with no one on the staff tossing more than 8.1 innings.
SCOUTING THE 901 CLASSIC
Ball State enters with a 2-3 record after playing in the FGCU Kickoff Classic. Both wins came by run rule over Long Island, with a 5-3 loss to American Conference team, Charlotte. Offensively, the Cardinals have three hitters above the .300 mark, led by Skylinn Pgoue at .467. Lindsey DeRoeck provided a large amount of Ball State's offense with 10 RBI during the first five games. In the circle, Gracy Gray and Bridie Murphy combined for 21.1 innings, with Grady carrying a 1-1 record with 12 strikeouts. Ella Whitney also sits at 1-1 in just 5.1 innings.
Miami comes into the Classic with the best record of the participants at 4-1, with wins over Minnesota, San Diego State and Loyola Chicago. The RedHawks, preseason favorites in the MAC, sit as the 10th-best mid major program according to D1Softball, and are led in the circle by reigning MAC Pitcher of the Week, Angelina Ricciardi. Ricciardi carried a 1.08 ERA across 13 innings with a 3-0 record and one save. Presley Hosick also provided meaningful innings for the RedHawks, tossing a team-high 16 strikeouts over 18 innings. Miami, a historically strong power-hitting team, has four hitters above .400 in average and five with an extra-base hit, led by Danitza Hernandez, who has two home runs and eight RBI thus far.
Evansville sits at 2-3 after its opening weekend in the Heart of Georgia Classic with both wins coming against Maine. The Purple Aces' first win over the Black Bears came in a 4-1 no-hit performance by Kate Ridgway. She has established herself as the team's ace early on with 22 strikeouts across 17.1 innings, logging at least seven strikeouts in each of her three appearances. At the plate, Jess Willsey leads the team with a .529 batting average and is tied with Eliza Piggott for the team lead with two home runs. Four different Aces have at least four RBI through one weekend of play.
The Kansas City Roos finished 2-3 in their first weekend of the season in the Doc Halverson Classic with wins against Northern Iowa and Butler. Offensively, the Roos are led by the pairing of Ella Husak and Megan Johnston, who a recurrently hitting .500 and .462, respectively. Kansas City has yet to hit a home run this season but has allowed seven. The Roos' pitching staff has seen three arms eat up a majority of the innings, with Delilah Roberts carrying a team-best 4.00 ERA with 11 strikeouts over 14 innings.
Southern Indiana enters the 901 Classic after going winless in the Alabama State Stinger Classic, dropping games to Nicholls, Northern Kentucky, Murray State and Alabama State. The Screaming Eagles are led offensively by Kate Satkoski, who holds a .444 average with a double and home run through the first weekend. In total, Southern Indiana's runs-scored ratio is 8-to-27. In the circle, three arms were used with Anna kemp tossing a team-leading 10 innings with nine strikeouts to a 2.80 ERA.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST THE FIELD
Memphis is 1-0 all time against Ball State, with the lone game in 2018 going as a 5-1 win.
The Tigers are winless in two games against Miami, with the most recent in 2012 being a 5-0 loss.
Memphis has a 1-1 record against each of Evansville and Kansas City, last playing the Purple Aces in 2020 and the Roos in 2018.
This will be the first all-time meeting between Memphis and Southern Indiana on the diamond.
FAN & MEDIA INFORMATION
Free parking for fans is available in Lot 63, located behind the left-field area of FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field. With possible inclement weather, fans are reminded that umbrellas are not permitted in the stadium. A clear bag policy is also in place with bags needing to meet the following standards:
- Clear bags made of plastic, vinyl or PVC no larger than 6x8x2 inches
- Bags MAY NOT have an all-over print or decoration that prohibits FULL view of its contents
- The bag may contain a strap, but metal or chain straps are prohibited
- One quart or smaller clear plastic storage-freezer bag (Ziploc or similar)
- Wallets (sized to carry in the front or back pocket) not larger than 5x3.5 inches
Clear bags are limited to one per person. Exceptions to this policy will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection.
Press box space for media members is highly limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis with priority being given to those who reach out for accommodations. Please contact the softball athletic communications contact at least 24 hours in advance to best work out accomodations if possible.
SINGLE GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Single-game tickets are on sale for the 2026 season. Ticket prices will vary based on seat location (standing room only or reserved bleachers), with weekend tournaments offering day passes, denoted by a color-coded wristband.
Tickets will be free for all current University of Memphis students. Up to two fans ages 17 and under will be allowed free admission per paid adult that enters with them. Please note that tickets for children ages 17 and under will be for the standing room only section. Reserved seating tickets must be purchased if adults would like them to have a seat in the bleachers.
Tickets can be purchased using THIS LINK.
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.
Players Mentioned
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RHP/INF
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2B/SS
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