University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
2-2
Northwestern
3-2
Memphis Drops Games to Northwestern and Arizona State on Final Day of Kajikawa Classic
Feb 08, 2026 | Softball
Tigers fall by run-rule to Northwestern before pushing Arizona State to brink in seventh
TEMPE, Ariz. – The University of Memphis (2-3) softball team fell in games against RV Northwestern (3-2) and RV Arizona State (4-1) during the final day of the 2026 Kajikawa Classic.
After falling by run rule against the Wildcats, Memphis held Arizona State to just one run through six innings while putting up three before falling by a walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh.
GAME ONE: Memphis 5, (RV) Northwestern 14
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Northwestern jumped out to an early lead with a five-inning first, taking advantage of a Memphis error and also scoring on a two-run double, fielder's choice and bases-loaded walk.
- Three runs in the second inning by the Wildcats put the Tigers at an 8-0 deficit with another two-run double and a wild pitch allowing a run to score.
- Northwestern added to its lead with two home runs, including a grand slam, in the third inning.
- Memphis answered with its first run of the game coming off a single by Paris Brienesse that scored Aubrey Williams from third.
- Williams previously reached on a single to end the no-hit bid and advanced to third on a stolen base and throwing error by the Wildcats.
- After a scoreless fourth inning, Northwestern tacked on a run with a solo home run by Kate Renschen.
- In its final at-bats, Memphis put up four runs, taking advantage of Northwestern miscues on a fielding error, two wild pitches, along with Williams logging an RBI single to score Jasmine Mack from second.
GAME TWO: Memphis 3, (RV) Arizona State 4
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first half of the game began as a pitchers' duel, with Taniyah Brown and Arizona State's Meika Lauppe going back-and-forth with scoreless frames. Through four innings, Brown logged two strikeouts and only allowed two hits while Lauppe struck out four and allowed three hits.
- The lone run of the first four innings came on a fielder's choice off the bat of Nehanda Lewis to give the Sun Devils a one-run lead.
- Locked in a stalemate, Ariel Davis stepped up and delivered a three-run home run on the 10th pitch of the at-bat to give the Tigers a lead in the back half of the game.
- Brown continued to shut down opposing Sun Devil hitters through the sixth inning.
- Memphis had a chance to add insurance runs as Kennedy Semien led off the seventh with a double but was stranded at third after a sacrifice bunt was popped up and the final batter of the inning struck out swinging.
- In the bottom of the seventh, six-straight Sun Devil batters reached after a leadoff groundout, with a single and fielding error leading to the bases being loaded after a walk.
- Brown was pulled with the bases loaded and Arizona State was able to end the game on back-to-back walks with the bases loaded, followed by the walk-off hit by Katie Chester to end the game.
NOTABLES
- After five games, Memphis is outpacing its opponents in batting average, triples, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
- Six Tigers (Kennedy Semien, Ariel Davis, Mya Clark, Kylie Waldrep, Paris Brienesse, Taniyah Brown) all have an OPS above 1.000, with Semien, Davis and Clark holding marks above 1.400 while being qualified hitters.
- Clark is the team's leader with a 1.944 OPS. She and Semien continue to be tied for the team lead with five RBI.
- Qualified hitters must have at least two plate appearances per game and played 75 percent of games.
- Nine different Tigers logged an RBI during the Kajikawa Classic, with 11 recording a run scored.
- Of Memphis' six pitchers utilized over the weekend, three (Rylee Dugar, Taniyah Brown, Avery Stutts) have five strikeouts and the Tigers hold the edge in strikeouts by a rate of 22-to-15.
- Ariel Davis was held hitless against Northwestern but stepped up with a three-run home run for Memphis' only scoring play of its game against Arizona State.
- After the first weekend of play, Davis is hitting .471 with a double, two triples, a home run and five RBI.
- The home run was also the second of Davis' career.
- Kennedy Semien was 3-for-5 on the day, logging a hit and run scored against Northwestern and two hits, including a double, against the Sun Devils.
- She sits as the team's leader in batting average at .500 after five games.
- Aubrey Williams was 2-for-5 in the day's contests, going 2-for-2 with an RBI against the Wildcats and making multiple web-gem plays against Arizona State.
- Paris Brienesse was 2-for-3 against the Wildcats and Sun Devils, with an RBI against Northwestern and a run scored against Arizona State.
- Deana Cunningham logged a run scored from a walk against Northwestern.
- She, Semien and Davis are the only Tigers to have started every game of the Kajikawa Classic.
- Taniyah Brown leads the pitching staff with 8.1 innings pitched after tossing 6.1 innings against Arizona State in the later of Memphis' two games.
UP NEXT
The Tigers return home next weekend to host the 901 Classic, with five games against Ball State, Miami, Evansville, Kansas City and Southern Indiana from Feb. 13-15.
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Blea, Emma (1-0)
L: Dugar, Rylee (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Robinson, Kansas 1 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 1
HR: Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Renschen, Kate 2
RBI: Robinson, Kansas 3 ; Nieto, Grace 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 2 ; Renschen, Kate 5
Base Running:
RUNS: Medina, Tru 1 ; Robinson, Kansas 2 ; Raye, Emma 1 ; Nieto, Grace 1 ; McCue, Teagan 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 3 ; Minarovic, Grace 1 ; Renschen, Kate 2
SB: Medina, Tru 1
HBP: Raye, Emma 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1
Batting:
RBI: Williams, Aubrey 1 ; Brienesse, Paris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Semien, Kennedy 1 ; Cunningham, Deana 1 ; Williams, Aubrey 2 ; Hune, Isabella 1
SB: Williams, Aubrey 1
CS: Brienesse, Paris 1
