Memphis softball finished its 2023 season with an 8-43 record.
That’s right: an 8-43 record. That means that Memphis won just 15.7% of its games in the 2023 campaign.
The Tigers went 3-20 at home, 3-12 on the road and 2-11 on a neutral field. Additionally, Memphis finished American Athletic Conference play 2-16 overall. That amounts to a winning percentage of 11.1%.
What Happened This Season?
The Tigers started the season in horrific fashion, going 0-6 in the SDSU Season Kickoff. After that, Memphis went 2-3 in the JU/UNF Invitational. It then went 0-4 in the Frost Classic, with the 5th game versus Chattanooga getting cancelled.
The Blues City Classic began with Memphis’ game against UTSA being suspended, but the Tigers then finished that tournament 0-3.
After losing a two-game series to Youngstown State, Memphis finished 1-3 in the Tiger Classic, including a win over Indiana State and two losses to North Alabama.
Memphis achieved victory just three more times after that, finishing its season with a nine-game losing streak. Its final loss was to UCF in the AAC Tournament.
A Decorated Leader
The Tigers were led by 1st year coach Stephanie VanBrakle Prothro, who is best known for her time on Alabama’s pitching staff as both a player and a coach.
Prothro pitched for Alabama from 2003-2006. During that time, Alabama made the NCAA Regional four consecutive times. It also made the Super Regional twice after the latter’s institution in 2005. Alabama won the SEC Tournament in both 2003 and 2005, with Prothro being named the tournament MVP in the latter year.
Additionally, Prothro was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year and a top 10 finalist for Collegiate Player of the Year in 2006.
While heading the Crimson Tide’s pitching staff from 2011-2022, Prothro oversaw the development of players like Jaclyn Traina, Alexis Osorio, Sarah Cornell and Montana Fouts.
Traina, the most decorated of that group, was the ace of an Alabama team that won the National Championship in 2012. In that season, she was a first-team All-American, recorded 42 wins, struck out 361 batters and was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year. She achieved similar accolades in 2013 and 2014.
Osorio was named SEC Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-American in 2015, Cornell was SEC Pitcher of the Year in 2019 and Fouts was named Freshman of the Year in that same season.
Prothro also boasts three years of head coaching experience prior to being Alabama’s pitching coach. She coached Birmingham-Southern, garnering a 57-14 record in two seasons. She then coached Samford for one year prior to joining Alabama’s staff.
Where did Memphis struggle? Where did it succeed?
Considering Prothro’s resume, it’s quite ironic that Memphis’ biggest weakness in 2023 was pitching. Sophomore Drue Thomas boasted a lowly 6.57 ERA, which led the team. Hallie Siems had a 7.32 ERA. Mikayla Hoschak’s was 9.48. Rylee Dugar’s was a 10.15.
And finally, freshman Kelsie Adams pitched a whopping 24.30 ERA.
Memphis has to make reinforcements for its pitching staff if it wants to improve in any way next year.
The Tigers’ offense showed much more promise in 2023.
It was far from perfect, but it showed potential. And the good news is that it’ll only lose two main contributors: Kendall Lee and Sam Ibison. Lee and Ibison hit for .310 and .293 averages respectively in their 5th and final years of eligibility.
The team’s batting leader, Lindsey Hargis should return after hitting a .314 average in 2023.
Additionally, Madison Berner hit a .292 average and should also return.
Click here for full stats from Memphis’ season.
Hope for the Future
Memphis softball had a disastrous 2023 campaign. There’s no doubt about that.
But fans have to remember that the Tigers were led by a 1st-year head coach, and a roster with an abundance of young talent.
Success will come in due time.
Fans will just have to wait a while.
