Complete Effort Powers Memphis to Series-Opening Win over UAB

Thursday, April 2

Birmingham, Ala.

5:30 p.m.

University of Memphis

12-25, 3-10

UAB

16-22, 3-10

Memphis

UAB

Photo by: Steven Spehar

Complete Effort Powers Memphis to Series-Opening Win over UAB

Apr 02, 2026 | Softball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Memphis (12-25, 3-10 American) softball team controlled offensive momentum, played error-free defense and produced in the circle in a 5-3 win over UAB (16-22, 3-10 American) Thursday night.

"It was great to see us step up on all three facets of the game; pitching, offense and defense," said head coach Trena Prater regarding the win. "The pitchers did a great job of feeding the defense and minimizing walks; we only had two. The offense had double-digit hits with 11 and we played clean defense. That's the formula for success that equals wins."

HOW IT HAPPENED

Taniyah Brown opened her second-consecutive start with a trio of groundouts on 13 pitches.
- Faith Brown picked up her first hit of the game in the top half of the first with two outs.
After a Deana Cunningham single and a Kennedy Semien sacrifice, Jaila Mitchell singled to center to bring Cunningham home.
- Taniyah Brown built her momentum further with a 14-pitch second inning.
The Tiger offense strung three hits together in the third, starting with a Neely Taylor single and followed by a pair of doubles by Ariel Davis and Faith Brown, with Brown's double scoring both runners.
Deana Cunningham picked up her first RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly to score Faith Brown.
UAB picked up its first run on an RBI double by Ashlyn Shirah in the bottom half of the third.
Taniyah Brown finished her fourth inning by working through runners on second and third with two outs.
Cunningham's second RBI came on an RBI single to score Faith Brown, who logged her second double of the game earlier in the fifth inning.
- Avery Stutts entered in the bottom of the fifth and needed just eight pitches to get through.
Memphis had runners on the corners with one out after walks drawn by Jaila Mitchell and Brylee Butts, but Neely Taylor lined out to the pitcher in a 1-3 double play.
UAB cut Memphis' lead to two on a two-run home run by Carlie Wilkins in the bottom of the sixth.
Ariel Davis led off the seventh with her second double, followed by Faith Brown's fourth hit of the contest.
- Paris Brienesse and Deana Cunningham both recorded stolen bases in the inning but failed to score.
Stutts induced a trio of ground balls to short, with the first two going in as groundouts and the third being an infield hit. The next at-bat, Stutts got Hannah Dorsett to fly out to end the game.
- Stutts' three innings of effective pitching in relief resulted in her first collegiate save.

NOTABLES

Tonight's win was Memphis' first road win over the Blazers since the 2010 season.
- It is also the first time Memphis has secured consecutive wins over UAB since the 2008 Conference USA Tournament and the 2009 series opener against the Blazers.
Faith Brown was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles and two RBI.
- Brown now leads Memphis with 22 RBI and stays tied with Ariel Davis for the team lead in doubles with eight on the season.
Ariel Davis had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with both hits being a double while adding a run scored.
- Davis now has 41 hits on the year and stays tied with Faith Brown for the team lead in doubles with eight.
Deana Cunningham was 2-for-3 with two RBI, one coming by way of the sacrifice fly.
- Cunningham also logged a run scored and a stolen base.
- It was Cunningham's second multi-RBI game of the season after logging a pair in Memphis' season opener against Toledo.
Neely Taylor recorded one hit and one run scored in the win.
Jaila Mitchell was 1-for-2 at the plate with an RBI and a walk.
Isabella Hune had one hit in the win.
Paris Brienesse stole her team-leading eighth base of the season after entering as a pinch runner.
Brylee Butts drew a walk in her pinch-hit opportunity.
Taniyah Brown picked up her first win of the season in four innings while only allowing one unearned run.
Avery Stutts logged her first career save with three innings in relief, striking out one.
- Stutts remains Memphis' leader in strikeouts with 31 on the year.

UP NEXT

The Tigers continue action against UAB at the same start time as today's matchup of 5:30 p.m. Friday at Mary Bowers Field.

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.