Tigers to Host Second-Straight Weekend Tournament in the Blues City Invitational

Saturday, February 21

Memphis, Tenn.

1 p.m.

University of Memphis

Kentucky

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Tigers to Host Second-Straight Weekend Tournament in the Blues City Invitational

Feb 19, 2026 | Softball

Game Notes

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (3-6) softball team is set for another home weekend at Tigers Softball Complex with six teams coming for the Blues City Invitational. The Tigers will play Kentucky, North Carolina A&T, Bradley and Indiana State on Saturday and Sunday.

Only Memphis' four games this weekend will be broadcast on ESPN+, with Greg Gaston on the call for Saturday and Tim Van Horn on Sunday.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS

Memphis comes into the weekend after its first midweek matchup of the season, falling 8-4 against No. 14 Mississippi State with all four runs coming from home runs by Faith Brown, Mya Clark and Kennedy Semien.

Ariel Davis continues to lead the Memphis lineup with team-bests in hits (10) and runs (eight), while Paris Brienesse has jumped into the team lead with a .500 batting average. Davis' five extra-base hits are matched by Clark, who also sits in a tie as the team's RBI (eight) leader with Semien.

Through nine games, Memphis has seen a change in style from the previous season at the plate. While still ranking near the top of the NCAA in sacrifice hits, nearly 40 percent of Memphis' hits this season have gone for extra bases with only 11 stolen bases on the year. Seven different players have sent one out of the park, with Clark being the only player with multiple, logging three home runs in eight games played.

The Tigers are still searching for consistency in the circle with a team ERA of 6.84, a mark that stands as the second-lowest in the American. Key contributors to Memphis' high number of runs allowed are walks issued (46) and fielding percentage (.927), both marks that are the lowest in the conference. Memphis' pitching load has been spread among seven pitchers, with Taniyah Brown and Avery Stutts being the only two with at least 10 innings pitched.

SCOUTING THE BLUES CITY INVITATIONAL

Kentucky enters the Invitational with a 7-4 record, including wins over then No. 13 Stanford and a shared opponent in Miami. Its matchup with Memphis will be the fourth game of the weekend for the Wildcats. Offensively, four Wildcats have at least seven RBI, highlighted by Karissa Hamilton. Hamilton holds a team-best .412 batting average with three doubles, two triples, two home runs and nine RBI. In the circle, freshman Hailey Nutter has totaled 22.2 innings with a 4-1 record and 2.47 ERA, also throwing two complete game shutouts.

North Carolina A&T sits at 4-7 on the season, with a key win against a common opponent in Evansville in extra innings. Destiny Sims leads the Aggies with a .361 average while Tyra Robinson and Jamari Moss each have three home runs and have totaled eight and seven RBI, respectively. Aaliyah Williams has pitched over half of A&T's innings with 33, tallying 32 strikeouts. The Aggies have also struggled in the field like Memphis, currently holding a .923 fielding percentage.

Bradley holds a 3-6 record going into the third weekend of the season with wins over Prairie View A&M and Binghamton. The Braves are led by a balanced offense with Austin Comstock and Morgan Schlosser leading with .500 and .419 batting averages, respectively. The pair have also combined for four home runs while Kierston McCoy leads the team with three home runs and 11 RBI.

Indiana State comes into the weekend with an even 5-5 record, led by former Memphis head coach Windy Thees. The Sycamore offense holds two hitters with an average above .400 in Madison Poulson and Morgan Goodrich. Goodrich, hitting .440, ranks fifth nationally with nine stolen bases while Indiana State's 26 stolen bases are good for 12^th in the NCAA. In the circle, a pairing of Caylee Gaytan and Lauren Sackett have tossed 35 and 23 innings, respectively. Gaytan has three complete games on the year with 39 strikeouts, while limiting opposing teams to a .192 batting average. The Sycamore defense also boasts a .988 fielding percentage, seventh in the NCAA.

SERIES HISTORY AGAINST THE FIELD

Memphis and Kentucky will meet for the fifth time and for the first time in either Memphis or Lexington. Last season, then No. 20 Kentucky defeated Memphis 9-1 at Georgia Tech in the I-75 Classic.

The Tigers and Braves have only met once, with Memphis taking a 10-3 win in 2018.

In the all-time series against Indiana State, Memphis holds a narrow 6-5 advantage with the Sycamores winning the most recent matchup in the 2024 Blues City Classic by a score of 3-2.

This Saturday marks the first all-time meeting between Memphis and North Carolina A&T.

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.

As a reminder, fans are not permitted to bring umbrellas into the venue and Tigers Softball Complex has a clear bag policy.

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.