The University of Memphis defeated mid-south rival Ole Miss in their only midweek game Tuesday. This is the first time the Tigers have beaten Ole Miss since 2017.
The game was a back-and-forth early, with each team trading punches through the first four innings. The Tigers seemed to gain the upper hand after Will Marcy hit a SAC bunt to score two runs. Ole Miss wouldn’t respond to the play by Marcy until the seventh inning tying the score. The Tigers fired back with a five run spree in the bottom of the seventh to regain and extend their lead.
Ole Miss Coach Mike Bianco looks onto the field. Ronald Todd/Tigerpen
Austin Baskin made the first play by helping Jake Curtis score, making the score 5-4. Then Pierre Seals followed up with a hit and a passed ball to help the Tigers get another score. The major play came in the bottom of the seventh, when Jonah Sutton hit a double to get both Seals and Stuart home. Shane Cox solidified the lead with a single RBI give the Tigers a 9-4 lead.
Head Coach Matt Riser speaks to Shane Cox as he is about to be at bat. Ronald Todd/Tigerpen
From that point on, the Tigers did not allow a single run from Ole Miss. Coach Riser was proud of the team for playing a complete game after losing the weekend series to FAU. He also acknowledged the role the crowd played in the energy of the dugout.
“I mean, there was a good atmosphere in the ballpark,” Riser said. “I thought they did a really good job of just not being too high, but using that electricity to make sure that they were in tune with what they were trying to get executed and get done.”
The Tigers head to Texas to face conference opponent Rice University in a weekend series. The first game will be on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
One thing every good team has, no matter what the sport, is the ability to be consistent. This is currently one of the main things the Memphis Tigers are lacking.
The Memphis Tigers once again find themselves at a neutral record after splitting the weekend doubleheader on Saturday against New Orleans. They won that series 2-1, but the last two weeks have been an up and down stretch for the Tigers, where they have only won 4 out of the last ten games.
The Grind City Classic was an especially ugly stretch for the Tigers, as they lost all three of those games. This was after dropping the previous two games to Ole Miss and Wright State University. So, before this week began, the Tigers were on a five-game losing streak and taking a large step back.
James Bristentine/Tigerpen Jake Curtis steps up at bat vs Wright State University during the second game of the series. This was the last game the Tigers won before going on a five game losing streak.
The following week, the Tigers put an end to the losing streak in the game against North Alabama. This win led to them going on a three-game win streak, which was ultimately stopped by New Orleans on Saturday afternoon in the first game of the doubleheader. Memphis lost that game 1-6, then won the next 12-10.
That has been the story for the Tigers. On a good hitting day, they seem like a complete team with few holes. In games they score ten or more points, their record is 7-0. Also, the Tigers average 10.9 runs in their wins. On the other hand, their losses are a completely different story, as so far this season they only average 4.54 runs in their losses. That is a huge drop off, and in three of their 11 losses they have only scored one run.
Pitching has also been a wildly inconsistent. In ten games the pitchers have allowed ten or more hits, and in six of those their opponents have scored ten or more runs. In the games they allow 10+ hits, they are 3-7.
Coach Matt Riser has said on multiple occasions that this team is a player-led team. However, after the weekend skid during the Grind City Classic, he was very transparent with what he wanted out of the players.
“If you’re still in, I expect to see you on Tuesday,” Riser said. “If not no big deal, come see me on Monday and we can set up the transfer portal.”
Robby Byrd/Tigerpen Matt Riser over looks the field while the Memphis Tigers are at bat.
Riser said no one showed up on Monday, and he said the seniors played a big role in the shift in play during the midweek series.
Another thing that Riser said that could be a key weapon for the Tiger’s is the energy from the dugout.
“The human mind is a beautiful thing. It’s probably the most complex machine that there is in the world, no matter what technology we have. And, you know, positive thinking and our positive reinforcement in the dugout with 37 guys in there bonding together. Makes it a huge difference.”
The Tigers are looking to build on their positive performance during Saturday’s second game when they face Mississippi State in Starksville. Following that, they have their weekend series at South Florida University. Memphis is just 3-5 on the road, so this may be a difficult stretch for them up ahead.
Memphis wins their first game of their weekend series against Wright State 6-3. The victory improves their record to 6-5, while Wright State drops to 2-6.
The Tigers scored the first five runs of the game. They started off the bottom of the first inning with three runs from Austin Baskin, Will Marcy and Duante Stuart. Aaron Smigelski helped the Tigers score again with two RBIs in the bottom of the third, bringing the score to 5-0.
On the defensive side, Memphis once again played a game with no errors. For the first seven innings of the game, The Tigers did not allow a single run. However, momentum started to shift towards Wright State in the eighth, when the Raiders hit a solo home run. Moments later, they added a two-run home run, making the score 5-3.
Daunte Stuart scores run in the bottom of the first. (Photo by Ronald Todd).
Aaron Smigelski responded to Wright State’s flurry of runs with one of his own, which gave Memphis a 6-3 cushion. This would be the last run either team scored, as the Tigers’ closer Breydan Sanders closed the game with two strikeouts and a save.
Although it was Sanders who closed out the game, David Warren was the primary pitcher for seven innings and led the team in strikeouts with three. Head coach Matt Riser said it was his hot start that gave the Tigers their early momentum.
“Dave [Warren] set the tone from the get-go,” said Riser. “I was really proud of his outing, one of the best of his career.”
David Warren practices his pitches for the next inning (Photo by Ronald Todd).
Aaron Smigelski was another key player in the victory. His final stat line included 2 RBIs and a home run. In the previous game against UT Martin, he had a sac-fly that gave them the lead and ultimately changed the momentum of the game. He says that he and the team are getting better after the slow start they had in the beginning of the season.
“Each day we’re improving as team,” said Smigelski. “We’re learning how to find ways to win.”
The Tigers will play their second game against Wright State tomorrow at 2 p.m.
After losing the first game Memphis recovered from Tuesday’s loss to UT, Martin in a 7-3 victory over the Skyhawks. The Tigers are now 5-5 on the season, 4-2 at home.
The Skyhawks came out strong in the first inning scoring three runs. Zac Rice was the first hitter for UTM and immediately hit a single. Infielder Andrew Fernandez followed with a single of his own. Will Smith moved Rice to third, and Blaze Bell brought him home with a ground out RBI.
Fernandez also advanced after stealing second base and took third on a pass ball. Infielder Cam Smith and Fernandez both score and bring the score to 3-0 at the top of the first.
After allowing 3 runs in the top first inning the Tigers responded strong in the bottom of the second. It all began when Brennan Dubose was allowed to walk. Aaron Smigelski hits, and Shane Cox gets both of them closer to a score with a sac-bunt out. On a hit by Austin Baskin, there was an error ruled on third base that allowed him to reach first and helped both Dubose and Smigelski score bringing the score to 3-2.
Zac Rice for the Skyhawks is about to be at bat. Image by Ronald Todd
From this point on, the Tigers would outscore the Skyhawks 5-0 in the next 6 innings. The Tiger’s defense helped a lot in securing the victory. Head Coach Matt Riser applauded the team for playing a complete game and for not beating themselves with errors like they did the previous night.
“We pitched it well,” said Riser. “Gave them three in the first but then eight-straight zeroes after that to a team who has been swinging it well all year. Zero errors was great to see.
RHP Brayden Sanders was one of the pitchers Riser spoke glowingly about. Sanders lead the pitchers in SOs with 5, and closed out the top of the eighth with 3 quick strikeouts. Sanders says it feels great that his coach has so much confidence in him to close out games.
“It’s always good knowing that your coach has your back no matter what happens.”
The Tigers will face Wright State University next in their weekend series. The first game will be Friday, March 1st.
The University of Memphis baseball team gears up to play its first game Friday with new coach Matt Riser at the helm.
Riser coached ten years in the Sun Belt Conference with Southeastern Louisiana University where he coached a total of 524 games with a 320-224 record. He also helped SELU get their first large NCAA tournament bid in 2016.
Riser is the 18th skipper for Memphis Tigers’ baseball.
When Riser spoke during his presser on media day, he was very straightforward with what he expected out of his players. He said he wants a locker room that is well connected. He then proceeded to say that if a player does not follow the expectations he has set, there will be consequences.
“If we bring guys that are coming here just for the draft or just to get on some type of prospect list or think they can play here because this program hasn’t been very good, they will get a rude awakening,” Riser said.
The Tiger’s first series will be at Jacksonville State University at beginning at 3 p.m. Friday. It will be live on ESPN+.
The Tigerpen 