Memphis Softball Drops Pair of Extra-Inning Games at 901 Classic

Tigers fall to Ball State in 8 innings, lose late-night matchup against Miami

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The University of Memphis softball team suffered a pair of losses in their opening games of the 901 Classic, falling to Ball State 6-2 in 8 innings and dropping a 7-0 decision to Miami that finished after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Why it matters

The Tigers are looking to bounce back after a 2-5 start to the season, and these losses against MAC opponents Ball State and Miami are a setback as they try to build momentum heading into conference play.

The details

In the opener against Ball State, Memphis took an early lead on a triple and run scored by Paris Brienesse, but the Cardinals tied it in the 7th to force extras. Ball State then scored 5 runs in the 8th to pull away. Against Miami, the RedHawks scored 6 runs in the 2nd inning to take control, and the Tigers were unable to mount a comeback despite loading the bases in the 7th.

  • The Memphis-Ball State game went 8 innings.
  • The Memphis-Miami game started at 11:15 p.m. and finished after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.

The players

Paris Brienesse

A Memphis player who hit a triple and scored on the same play due to an outfield error against Ball State.

Taniyah Brown

The Memphis pitcher who worked through multiple high-pressure situations and issued 7 walks in her outing against Ball State.

Mya Clark

The Memphis player who recorded an RBI on a sacrifice fly against Ball State.

Neely Taylor

The Memphis player who hit a double in the second at-bat of the game against Miami.

Brylee Butts

The Memphis freshman who made her collegiate debut against Ball State as a pinch runner and logged a triple as her first collegiate hit against Miami.

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What they’re saying

“Six triples through seven games is an impressive stat for the Tigers.”

— Memphis Athletics (gotigersgo.com)

What’s next

The Tigers will look to bounce back on day two of the 901 Classic, facing Evansville and Kansas City at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. respectively on Saturday.

The takeaway

Despite the tough start, the Tigers have shown flashes of potential, with several players contributing key hits and strong pitching performances. As they continue to gain experience, the team will look to build momentum and find more success in the coming games.