Tigers Drop Extra-Inning Contest Against Ball State and Fall in Late-Night Game against Miami

Friday, February 13

Memphis, Tenn.

5 p.m.

University of Memphis

2-4

Ball State

4-3

Ball State

Memphis

Tigers Drop Extra-Inning Contest Against Ball State and Fall in Late-Night Game against Miami

Feb 14, 2026 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (2-5) softball team fell in both of its opening matches against Mid-American Conference opponents, Ball State (4-3) and Miami (5-2).

After an eight-inning affair with the Cardinals ended in a loss, the Tigers fell in a 7-0 loss that began at 11:15 p.m. and finished just after 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

GAME ONE: Memphis 2, Ball State 6 (8 inn.)

HOW IT HAPPENED

After an early pitchers' duel, Paris Brienesse gave the Tigers a lead with a triple while scoring on the same play due to an outfield error.
Taniyah Brown held the opposing Cardinal hitters at bay, working through multiple high-pressure situations and issuing seven walks in her outing.
With a one-run lead and a chance to close out the game, Memphis issued a bases-loaded walk that pushed the game to extras.
Ball State quickly took advantage of the ghost-runner rule, scoring on a wild pitch and throwing error to go up by one before Skylinn Pogue cleared the bases with a three-RBI single.
The Cardinals added a run on a Memphis error to go up by five in the extra frame.
Memphis was able to get one run back on a sacrifice fly by Mya Clark, but the Tigers fell in eight innings.

GAME TWO: Memphis 0, Miami 7

HOW IT HAPPENED

Neely Taylor put pressure on Miami early with a double in Memphis' second at-bat of the game but was stranded at third.
After the scoreless first, Miami opened the game up with six runs in the second on an RBI single by Kari Krueger, a three-RBI triple by Bailey Manoes, an RBI single by Katy Olive and Olive scoring due to an error during a rundown.
The RedHawks gained another run on a double steal in the fourth inning.
The Tigers went down in order in four straight innings from the second to the fifth frames.
A triple in the sixth inning by Brylee Butts led to the freshman being stranded after the next two batters struck out.
Memphis was able to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but two-straight strikeouts ended the night at 1:24 a.m. on Saturday after the Tigers played in over five hours of back-to-back games.

NOTABLES

Memphis now has six triples through seven games.
Ariel Davis leads all Tigers after seven games with a .409 batting average after going 1-for-5 in today's games.
Neely Taylor went 1-for-3 over the two games with a double.
Brylee Butts made her collegiate debut against Ball State as a pinch runner and logged a triple as her first collegiate hit against Miami.
Paris Brienesse also hit a triple during the day, scoring on the same play due to error.
Mya Clark recorded an RBI on a sacrifice fly against Ball State.
- It moves her into the team lead with six RBI.
Taniyah Brown logged her second appearance of one-run ball going into the seventh inning.
- Brown has a team-best 4.20 ERA among qualified pitchers and has tossed 15 innings, the most on the Tigers by a margin of 6.1 innings.
Jaila Mitchell, Kayla Clement and Jericho Tate all made their 2026 debuts, with Mitchell also making her collegiate debut.

UP NEXT
Day two of the 901 Classic will see Memphis face Evansville and Kansas City at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, with both games being 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.