Tigers’ Season Concludes in First Round of American Championships

Wednesday, May 6

Greenville, N.C.

Noon

University of Memphis

18-39

UTSA

24-32

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Memphis	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	6	7	1
UTSA	2	0	5	0	1	0	X	8	10	0

Photo by: Steven Spehar

Tigers’ Season Concludes in First Round of American Championships

May 06, 2026 | Softball

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The University of Memphis softball team saw its season come to an end in an 8-6 loss to UTSA in the opening round of the American Conference Championships at Max R. Joyner Stadium on Wednesday.

Memphis (18-39) put up three runs in each of the first and seventh innings but eight runs by UTSA (24-32) in between those frames led to a season-ending loss for the Tigers.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Tigers brought eight batters to the plate in the first inning, plating three to kick off their conference tournament opener.
- Neely Taylor brought a pair home with a two-out, two-run double over the left fielder's head, scoring Ariel Davis and Taylor Caton.
- Deana Cunningham brought Taylor home on an RBI single in the next at-bat.
UTSA responded with two in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI groundout and a single to right field.
After a scoreless second, UTSA tacked on five in the third, with only two being earned. The runs came home on a bases-loaded walk, an error, a two-RBI single and a sacrifice fly.
The Roadrunners extended their lead with another bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Down to its final outs, Memphis' first three batters reached in the seventh, with Faith Brown bringing Ariel Davis and Paris Brienesse home on a two-run single to right field.
- Neely Taylor brought Brown home on a sacrifice fly and Deana Cunningham walked, but a groundout ended Memphis' season.

NOTABLES

The opening round game puts Memphis at 57 games played, tied for the fourth-most in a season
Memphis recorded a .283 batting average in 2026, the fourth-highest single-season total (excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season).
The Tigers slugged .445 on the season, the most in single-season program history (minimum 1,000 at-bats).
Memphis' .370 season on-base percentage was the second highest in a season (minimum 1,000 at-bats).
The Tigers' 2026 campaign ends with 397 hits, the most since 2018 and the sixth-most in single season history.
Memphis' 251 runs scored fall short of last season's total, but rank as the fourth-most in a single season.
The Tigers end the 2026 season with 222 RBI, good for the second-most in a season in Tigers history.
Memphis' now 67 doubles tie its number from the previous season, ranking tied for the third-most in single-season program history.
Memphis tied its 2025 stolen base total in today's game on Brienesse's 17^th of the year, giving the Tigers 68 through the season.
- The Tigers were 68-for-82 (.829) on stolen base attempts, the sixth-highest mark in a season in program history.
Memphis' sacrifice hit and sacrifice fly totals reach 53 and 18, respectively, in the conference tournament loss.
- The sacrifice hit total surpasses last year and is the fourth-most in single-season history.
- The 18 sacrifice flies are tied for last season's total and the most in single-season program history.
Neely Taylor was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI in her final collegiate game.
- She ends the season as Memphis' doubles leader with 13, tied for the fourth-most in a season.
- Taylor's 22 career doubles are tied for the 10^th-most in a Tigers career.
Ariel Davis picked up her 16^th multi-hit game of the year, going 2-for-3 with a run scored, also drawing a walk.
- She is the first Tiger since 2022 (Gracie Morton) with a 60-hit season.
- Her 16 multi-hit games are tied for the seventh-most in program history, and the most since 2019 (Baylee Smith).
- Davis' 97 total bases are the sixth-most in single-season history for the Tigers.
- Davis ends her redshirt sophomore season as the only Tiger to play all 57 games, starting in 55.
- Davis' .392 season average is the fifth-best in program history.
- Her .634 season slugging percentage ranks sixth in program history, while her .489 on-base percentage sets a new single-season program record.
- Davis' 1.123 OPS ranks second in single-season history, two points shy of the program record set in 2006.
Deana Cunningham logged her sixth multi-hit game of the season with a pair of hits and an RBI in the loss, also reaching on a walk.
- Cunningham finishes the season with the most starts (56) by a Tiger.
- Her 142 defensive assists rank as the second-most in single-season history.
Faith Brown went 1-for-4 in the opening round loss with a two-RBI single.
- Brown ends her sophomore season with 43 RBI, the second-most in program history and one shy of the program record.
- Brown finished with a .362 batting average, the eighth-highest in program history.
- Brown's .652 slugging percentage is the fourth-highest in single-season program history.
- Brown finished with a 1.055 OPS, the seventh-highest in program history.
Paris Brienesse walked and scored in the seventh, also stealing her 17^th base of the season.
- The stolen base puts her tied for the 10^th-most in a season in program history.
- Brienesse's .895 stolen base percentage is tied for the eighth-highest in single-season program history.
Taylor Caton reached on a walk and scored in the first.
Kayla Clement drew a walk in the loss.
Mya Clark struck out one batter in 2.1 innings, taking the loss.
Rylee Dugar tossed a scoreless sixth inning in her final collegiate appearance.
- Dugar finishes her Memphis career with the fifth-most appearances (108) and eighth-most innings pitched (337.2) in Tigers history.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS

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