Memphis Shuts Down Rice to Complete Sweep

Photo Credit: Brock Busick/Memphis Athletics

The Memphis Tigers defeated the Rice Owls 2-1 in the finale game of the series to complete the series sweep Sunday.

It was the first series sweep of the season for the Tigers and the first road conference series sweep in over than a decade. After this weekend they find themselves back at a .500 record of 17-17.

“Great weekend, just really proud of the guys,” head coach Matt Riser said after the game.

Caden Robinson started the game for the Tigers and continued the solid pitching the Tigers had all series.

The Tigers got all the scoring they needed in the top of the second inning when Jacob Compton doubled home Daunte Stuart.

Compton was brought home by a Shane Cox single to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

All Rice could muster offensively was a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning to make it a 2-1 game.

Robinson was solid throughout his time on the mound, going 4 innings while giving up one run, four hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.

Logan Rushing replaced Robinson in the fifth inning but gave up back-to-back walks in the sixth inning, causing him to be relieved and finishing 1.1 innings pitched with no runs, no hits, two walks, and one strikeout.

Jackson Lyons was brought in with one out in the sixth with two men on, and he only had to face one batter in his appearance when he got a double play to end the sixth inning.

It was one of many clutch plays on defense that the Tigers had in the series, which has been a problem for the Tigers this season.

“That’s been our achilles heel all year in all honesty…this weekend it showed.” Coach Riser said.

Jake Curtis the took to the mound from his shortstop position to keep the lead for closer Brayden Sanders.

Curtis would do just that with a solid seventh inning before getting into some trouble in eighth with runners at second and third.

Curtis would work his way out of it with a Rice baserunner being thrown out at home and then got a groundout for the final out to keep the lead going into the ninth.

Brayden Sanders, who has been lights out for the Tigers all season, was brought in complete the game for the Tigers.

Sanders would let the first two batters in the ninth get on base but was able to work around it to get the three outs and get his seventh save of the season.

The Tigers will now take their momentum to Bear Stadium in Conway, Arkansas on Tuesday to take on Central Arkansas at 6 pm.

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