The Memphis Tigers Softball {0-5} season has begun, and excitement is in the air. The Tigers traveled to San Diego to compete in the 2023 SDSU Season Kickoff from Friday, February 10th, through Sunday, the 12th. Memphis played a total of five games yet did not get a victory in the tournament. We will look at each game, the opponent’s, and the final score. We will also look at what is next on the schedule for this program and when and where the games will be played. Let’s look at who they played in San Diego.
SDSU Season Kickoff Recap
Memphis would have five games over three days in San Diego. On a challenging weekend, the Tigers would face teams such as Arizona State, Northern Illinois, and Notre Dame as their opponents. As mentioned above, Memphis came out of the weekend without a win, but the fight In this team is there. Who did the Tigers play on each day? Let’s check out the weekend schedule.
Day One
Game 1 – Nothern Illinois University – 5-4 – Loss
Memphis would fall ahead early as the Huskies scored three runs in the first inning. After no answer from the Tigers, NIU added to their lead with a run in the second and third inning to take a 5-0 lead. In the fifth inning, the Tigers would cut the deficit to two behind Taylor Smirt and Linsey Hargis, who would drive in a combined three runs in the top of the inning. Memphis would hold the Huskies scoreless for the game’s final four innings. Tiger pitcher Hallie Sims would get her first season start and show out with seven strikeouts.
Game 2 – California State University at Northridge – 5-0 – Loss
In game two of day one, the Tigers would take on the Matadors from CSUN, or California State University at Northridge, and come away with a loss of 5-0. Rylee Dugar would get the start for the Tigers and get two strikeouts in her first start of the season. In the first inning, the Matadors would jump on Dugar early with a run in the first and second inning. Raegan Jackson and Vargos- Sandoval would further the lead to 5-0 in the top of the seventh with their three runs scored. Memphis defensively would play well through six innings as they only had given up two runs to that point. Memphis would fall 5-0 to the Matadors, but they saw Kendall Lee, Madi Berner, Taylor Smirt, Sam Ibison, and LaNya Bates get hits in the loss.
Head Coach Stephanie Prothro would have the following to say following the first day. “I thought we came out a little excited and nervous in the first game. When we finally settled in, I thought we competed well all day.” “I thought we looked much improved from the fall, so we will keep working and staying in the process of getting better every day.”
Day Two
Game 1 – Arizona State – 10-0 – Loss
Memphis would start day two in San Diego against a top program in Arizona State. The Sun Devils would come away with a 10-0 victory over the Tigers. ASU would start fast with two runs in the first and five more in the bottom of the second. Memphis would record only one hit in the game, as Maegan Chism would get a single in the second inning. Rylee Dugar would get her second start of the season in the loss and record two strikeouts in her appearance.
Game 2- San Diego State – 7-1 – Loss
Memphis would close out the second day with the host team in the Aztecs from San Diego State. Hallie Siems would get the start for the Tigers and record three strikeouts in her appearance. San Diego State would score two runs in the second inning. Memphis would answer with a run when Sam Ibison would single to get Taylor Smirt home on the hit to center field. Ibison, Smirt, and Madi Berner would all get a hit for Memphis in the game. The Aztecs would close the game by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth and pull away with a 7-1 win.
Day Three
Game 1 – Notre Dame – 9-1 – Loss
Hallie Sims would finish her appearance with three strikeouts in the 9-1 loss to Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish would strike first with five runs in the first inning. Memphis would answer with a run by Rachel Britton in the bottom of the fifth. Notre Dame would close the victory over the Tigers with four runs in the top of the sixth behind a Mac Vasquez two-run single and scoring a run. This would ensure the 9-1 win for the Irish.
What’s Next?
While many will see the five losses by the Tigers and think this isn’t a good team. These people would be overacting drastically. Memphis has talent and fights from the staff to every roster member. The Tigers will now travel to Jacksonville, Florida, to compete in the Jacksonville University/ North Floria University Invitational. The Tigers will compete on Friday, February 17th, through Sunday, February 19th. On Friday, Memphis will face Bethune Cookman and Jacksonville. The first game, against Bethune Cookman, will start at 1:30 pm. The second game of the day, against Jacksonville, will begin at 4 pm. On Saturday, Memphis will have two-afternoon contests. The first, against Cleveland State, will start at 2:20 pm. The second, against North Florida, will begin at 4:30 pm. The final game for the Tigers, on Sunday, against Penn State, will begin at 9 am.
