Clark Tosses Shutout as Tigers Split Doubleheader against North Texas

Friday, April 17

Memphis, Tenn.

3 p.m.

University of Memphis

16-30, 4-15

North Texas

25-20, 13-6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Texas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
Memphis	0	1	0	0	0	0	X	1	3	0

Clark Tosses Shutout as Tigers Split Doubleheader against North Texas

Apr 17, 2026 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – In a pair of bouts between the bottom two pitching staffs in the American Conference, Memphis and North Texas split a doubleheader on Friday to open the series.

Mya Clark tossed Memphis' first shutout in conference play since 2021 to earn a 1-0 victory in the first leg before Memphis (16-31, 4-16 American) was unable to mount a comeback against the Mean Green (26-20, 16-4 American) in the back half of the doubleheader.

GAME ONE: Memphis 1, North Texas 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both pitchers, Mya Clark for Memphis and Anneca Anderson for North Texas, opened their first innings with a pair of strikeouts.
In the bottom of the second, Kennedy Semien and Jaila Mitchell reached on a walk and hit-by-pitch, respectively, to set up Deana Cunningham with two outs. Cunningham sent a looping shot over the shortstop's head for the first run of the game.
- Mitchell was thrown out on the play, attempting to score on an errant throw.
Clark received help from her defense in the third with Cunningham turning a 6-3 double play on a grounder up the middle.
The Memphis defense turned a second double play in consecutive innings when Jaila Mitchell started a 4-6-3 double play to strand a runner in scoring position.
After Clark issued a leadoff walk in the fifth, Zereniti Sousa caught the runner stealing and Clark struck out one batter and induced a groundout to keep North Texas off the board through five innings.
The Tiger defense stepped up again in the sixth with Kennedy Semien nabbing a baserunner attempting to reach third on a single down the left-field line.
In the bottom half of the sixth, Neely Taylor led off the inning with a pinch-hit double but was stranded at third to end the inning.
Mya Clark earned the complete game shutout by working through a pair of singles, striking out one batter and inducing a game-ending flyout.

GAME TWO: Memphis 2, North Texas 4

HOW IT HAPPENED

After two Mean Green hitters reached in the first three batters of the second game, Elizabeth Moffitt singled to right center for North Texas' first run of the day.
Neely Taylor moved into the leadoff spot for the second game, singling on her second pitch before becoming stranded at third to end the inning.
North Texas doubled its lead with a solo home run off the bat of Moffitt for her second RBI of the game.
The Mean Green added a third run on a looping RBI single off the bat of Madison Conley in the fourth.
Memphis responded with a pair of runs in the fifth to cut the deficit to one.
- After Kennedy Semien reached on an error, Deana Cunningham roped an RBI triple up the middle to bring Semien home.
- Paris Brienesse followed with a bunt single and Memphis utilized a first-and-third situation to bring Cunningham home on a steal.
  - Brienesse was caught stealing on the scoring play.
- Memphis ran itself out of the inning as Isabella Hune was caught in between bases after Ariel Davis singled up the middle.
North Texas put itself ahead by two runs on a solo home run by Blayze McNemar that went over the wall with help from a Memphis outfielder's glove.
In the bottom of the sixth, Jasmine Mack hit a one-out double and advanced to third on a wild pitch before being stranded on a strikeout and flyout.
Avery Stutts kept the Mean Green at bay in the seventh with a pair of flyouts and a popout to keep the game at 4-2.
- Memphis' hitters went down on six pitches in the seventh to end the game.

NOTABLES

Memphis' 1-0 victory was the Tigers' first shutout win against a conference opponent since a 3-0 win against Houston on May 1, 2021.
With two during the doubleheader, Memphis' season total of sacrifice bunts hits 40, tied for the third-most in the nation.
Memphis' now 13 triples rank 25^th nationally, tied for first in the American and are now tied for the third-most in program history.
- The program record is a two-way tie of 21 triples in both 2017 and 2018.
Memphis' 61 stolen bases are now tied for the sixth-most in a single season in Tigers history.
The Tiger defense has turned 18 double plays on the year, the eighth-most in a season in program history.
Memphis has been hit by a pitch 36 times this season, the second-most in a season in Memphis history and eight shy of tying the program record.
The Tigers' 54 doubles are currently the eighth-most by a Memphis offense in a season.
Mya Clark tossed her first career complete game and shutout with seven scoreless innings in the opening game of the series, tying a career-high with four strikeouts.
Deana Cunningham was 2-for-5 in the doubleheader with a triple and Memphis' only two RBI of the games, also adding a stolen base.
- Cunningham now finds herself in a four-way tie for the team lead in triples with two.
- Cunningham also now sits at 123 defensive assists on the season, the second-most by a Tiger in program history.
Neely Taylor was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with a double, also drawing a pair of walks.
- Taylor is now one of six Tigers with at least 10 walks drawn this season.
Kennedy Semien had a hit and run scored in each game.
Jasmine Mack logged her sixth double of the season for her lone hit of the doubleheader.
Taylor Caton picked up one hit in two starts at first base during the doubleheader.
Ariel Davis had one hit across the pair of games, also logging a sacrifice hit.
Jaila Mitchell reached on a hit-by-pitch and also recorded a sacrifice hit.
Paris Brienesse logged one hit on a bunt single.
Avery Stutts struck out two batters in four relief innings in the second leg of the doubleheader.

UP NEXT

The rubber match of the series between Memphis and North Texas is set for a noon start on Sunday with a broadcast on ESPN+.

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), 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.

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