TAMPA, Fla. – The 10th-seeded Memphis Tigers used a fast start and a strong finish to defeat No. 7 UAB I the First Round of the American Softball Championship, 6-5, on Wednesday at the USF Softball Stadium.
The Tigers advance to the second round to play No. 6 East Carolina later today at 7 p.m. ET
The Tigers came out swinging, recording three straight hits to drive in a pair of runs. Taniyah Brown and Kennedy Semien recorded back-to-back two-out RBI singles to put Memphis up 2-0 in the opening frame.
The Blazers answered in the bottom frame, loading the bases with one out before Lindsey Smith hit a blooper into left field to score Hannah Dorsett.
UAB threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning, loading the bases with two outs. Memphis’ Riley Dugar forced back-to-back fly outs to escape the inning and keep the 2-1 lead.
The Tigers extended their lead in the top of the seventh inning. With runners on the corners, Mia Brown connected on a double to left center to drive in Semien from third base. Arianna Cox-Cole laid down a bunt to drive in a second run, while beating out the throw to first base. Kayla Clement singled down the left field line to add a third run before an RBI ground out from Drue Thomas drove in the final run of the inning to give the Tigers a 6-1 lead.
A two-out error by the Tigers allowed the Blazers to score two runs before Makenzie Droddy connected on a hard ground ball up the middle to drive in another run and push the score to 6-4. Alyssa Aguilar continued the two-out rally, hitting a line drive to right field to push the game to one score, with the game-tying run at third base. A ground ball to Ariel Davis at shortstop ended the game to advance the Tigers to the second round.
Riley Dugar (7-10) earned the win for the Tigers, tossing 6.2 innings and allowing one earned run. Jericho Tate (1) earned the save, recording the final out of the inning.
2025 American Athletic Conference Softball Championship
May 7-10, 2025
USF Softball Stadium | Tampa, Florida
Wednesday, May 7 | First and Second Round
Game 1: No. 8 Tulsa 1, No. 9 UTSA 0
Box Score | Highlights | Recap
Game 2: No. 10 Memphis 6, No. 7 UAB 5
Box Score | Highlights | Recap
Game 3: No. 8 Tulsa vs No. 5 Wichita State | 4 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 4: No. 10 Memphis vs No. 6 East Carolina | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Thursday, May 8 | Quarterfinals
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs No. 4 North Texas | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs No. 3 Charlotte | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Friday, May 9 | Semifinals
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs No. 1 Florida Atlantic | 1 p.m. | ESPNU
Game 8: Game 6 winner vs No. 2 South Florida | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Saturday, May 10 | Championship
Game 9: Game 7 winner vs Game 8 winner | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN2
*All game times Eastern and subject to change
