University of Memphis

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Memphis (17-31, 4-18 AAC) softball dropped the opening game of its series against RV Florida Atlantic (39-9, 18-4 AAC), 24-2, Friday evening at Joan Joyce Field.
 
“I was proud of Drue Thomas for competing and coming up with a big first-inning home run,” said head coach Trena Prater. “You have to tip your hat to FAU for taking advantage of our mistakes. We have to be better in the circle; we walked and hit too many batters. We have to find a way to keep the ball in the park and play error-free defense. We have to want it every pitch, offensively and defensively.”
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Tigers established a lead in their fourth at-bat of the contest, as Drue Thomas sent a shot to left field for a two-run home run.
• Florida Atlantic regained the lead in the bottom half of the frame, bringing nine runs home on just three hits.
  • The first run for FAU came on a fielder’s choice with a defensive error.
  • The next three runs came around on bases-loaded walks.
  • Kylie Hammonds recorded FAU’s first hit of the contest in her second at-bat, as the Owls batted around in the first.
  • Kylie Channell followed up with a single that brought two more runs home.
  • A close play with a fielding error on a ball hit by Jesiana Mora brought Channell home for the ninth run of the inning.
  • An infield single legged out by Destiny Johns scored Mora for FAU’s 10th run.  

• The Owls added a run in the second inning on an RBI double by Kylie Hammonds.
• FAU tallied four runs in the third inning.
  • Jesiana Mora began the bottom of the third inning with a solo home run.
  • An RBI single by Destiny Johns followed by a two-run home run by Bella Cimino gave FAU a 15-2 lead.

• In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Owls put up seven more runs.
  • Emily Ching hit a two-RBI double to right center in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Owls a 15-run lead.
    • Ching had entered as a defensive replacement during the previous inning.

  • An infield single off the bat of Bella Cimino brought home Florida Atlantic’s third run of the inning.
  • Corin Dammeier recorded an RBI single in the next at-bat, scoring Abby Ota.
    • Ota had also entered as a defensive replacement.

  • An RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Yani Guzman, who entered as a pinch hitter, made the score 20-2 in favor of FAU.
  • Kylie Channell brought in her second and third RBI of the game with a single to left field.
  • Emily Ching recorded her second hit on a two-RBI single.
    • Ching finished the inning with two hits and four RBI.

• Memphis was sent down in order to end the game.
  
   

NOTABLES

• FAU’s 10-run first inning stands as the highest single-inning run total allowed by the Tigers this season.
• The 22-run margin of defeat is tied for the largest in program history.
  • It is tied with a 22-0 loss to Wichita State during the 2022 season.

• All four of Memphis’ pitchers appeared in the contest with Taniyah Brown taking the loss, moving to 4-6 on the season.
• Drue Thomas finished with a 1-for-2 performance, hitting a two-run home run for Memphis’ only runs of the game.
• Ariel Davis recorded Memphis’ only other hit of the evening, going 1-for-1 with a sacrifice bunt.
• Kennedy Semien reached on a walk and scored on Thomas’s home run in the first inning.
• Zoe Adebayo‘s six-game streak of reaching base is snapped after failing to reach in two at-bats.

 
UP NEXT
The Tigers look to rebound in game two of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. CST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.  

HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS

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