The Tigerpen

Tag: AAC baseball

  • Tigers Win Rollercoaster Game Against Bowling Green

    Tigers Win Rollercoaster Game Against Bowling Green

    The Memphis Tigers Baseball team have evened the series against Bowling Green after a close 14-13 win.  New transfer Will Marcy hit the deciding single in the bottom of the Ninth as the Tigers showed resilience after losing an early ten point-lead.

    During the first four innings, Memphis held Bowling Green scoreless while scoring in every single outing. The Tigers offense started on fire scoring multiple runs with Riley Davis hitting a three-run home run. This led to a 10-0 lead after four inning. The fifth inning seemed to be the turning point for BGSU, as batter Nathan Archer hit a Grand slam to bring the life back into the offense. This sparked a flame as Bowling Green scored seven runs in the top of the sixth inning to take the lead for the first time on the afternoon with 11-10.

    After Archer’s Grand slam, the Tigers pulled their starting pitcher Luke Ellis. During the next innings, the Tigers went through Jonah Posey, Seth Garner and Kylan Strepter at pitcher, but none of them could keep the Bowling Green hitters from scoring. So, after the eighth inning, BGSU led the game 13-12.

    • Breydan Sanders celebrates after getting two big strikeouts in the ninth inning. Photo: Florian Krempel
    • Seth Cox with a big hit to the left outfield. Photo: Florian Krempel

    Tigers head coach Matt Riser made the deciding pitcher change at the start of the ninth inning and went with Brayden Sanders. This proved to be the right decision as Sanders had two huge strikeouts to get out of the top of the ninth. After the game, Riser praised Sanders’ qualities.

    “He is a closer. We had him ready to come in and we needed him today. He is one of our best arms and we need to get him more out there in these situations”.

    After going scoreless for three of the four innings from the fifth to the eighth, the Tigers offense showed off when they were needed in the last inning. Coach Riser said, he had to get his guys back into the game after the eleven points run by BGSU.

    “I told them: Just relax and go play for me,” said Riser. “We played really good in the beginning, now let’s play good at the end of the game.”

    After a Pierre Seals walk and a single by Alex Fernandes, the Tigers managed to tie the game. With the bases loaded, it was NC State transfer Will Marcy at bat. His walk-off single drove in the deciding run for the 14-13 victory for the Tigers.

    After the game, coach Riser explained that he hopes that this game also has a mental effect on the team after losing a similar game to Little Rock the week before.

    “Definitely a game that can swing the momentum. Now, we won one like that. This gives us more confidence to go out late in these close games.”

    Tomorrow will be the third game in the series with the Tigers hoping to win their first weekend matchup. At the press conference, Matt Riser highlighted the importance of tomorrow’s match.

    “Sunday is the day you put your heart out on. You need to win Sunday. If you win Sunday, you either winning the series or sweeping the series nine times out of ten.”

    Sunday’s game will see Caden Robinson making his second start of this season. Coach Riser said he trusts in Robinson to finish out the series Sunday.

    “To have that guy on Sunday, a guy, who works with a great tempo and fills the zone up. We feel very good about it.”

    The final game of the series against Bowling Green will start at 1 pm at FedEx Park.

  • The AAC Off to Slow Start With 18-20 Record.

    The AAC Off to Slow Start With 18-20 Record.

    It has been a rough start to the season for the AAC. With the first weekend of games done the AAC’s combined record is below .500.

    East Carolina University Pirates

    They opened their season at home against the Rider Broncos. The Pirates pulled off the three game sweep, outscoring the Broncos 30-2. Then on Tuesday they faced Campbell losing that game 6-7. They face North Carolina this upcoming weekend.

    University of North Carolina at Charlotte 49ers

    The 49ers also started their 2024 campaign at home, taking on Virginia Tech. The 49ers struggled losing their first two games to the Hokies, but taking the last on Sunday. After losing the weekend series they bounced back with a 24-1 win over Davidson. They stay home to face West Virginia.

    University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners

    The Roadrunners battled the Mavericks of UT Arlington with the series ending in a 2-2 tie. It was a close series as three of the four games only being decided by 1 run. They then traveled to Tarleton St. losing the one game 10-14. They now go east to play in the Sugarland Classic.

    Florida Atlantic University Owls

    The Owls took on the no. 6th ranked Vanderbilt Commodores to start the season. They were able to upset in one game winning 5-4 on Saturday. That would be the only game that weekend they would win as they would lose to Vanderbilt 11-1 in the final game of the series. They have their home opener against Towson next.

    University of South Florida Bulls

    The Bulls had three of their five games this past week canceled or postponed. The two games they were able to play they lost to UCONN and Indiana St. They take on Marist College this weekend at home.

    Wichita State University Shockers

    The Shockers went south to Little Rock to take on the Trojans for their opening series. They would win the series 2-1 and outscored the Trojans 36-10 over the three games. They go further south this weekend to play in the Jax College Baseball Classic.

    Rice University Owls

    The Owls hosted the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to start the season. However, it did not go to plan as they lost all three games. They did win their midweek game beating Sam Houston St. 7-3. They now go to Lafayette, LA to face the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.

    Tulane University Green Wave

    The Green Wave were one of four teams to out right win their weekend series. They had Northwestern come into town and won their Saturday and Sunday games. They then hosted Nicholls St. on Tuesday, winning that game 3-2. This weekend they play at home once again to take on UC Irvine in a three game series.

    University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers

    The Blazers also enjoyed a winning weekend against Kennesaw St. taking the last two games of the series. They took on Auburn on Wednesday, losing to the Tigers 2-7. They face Southeastern Louisiana this weekend at home.

  • Memphis Baseball Bested by Arkansas Little Rock in Midweek Showdown

    Memphis Baseball Bested by Arkansas Little Rock in Midweek Showdown

    LITTLE ROCK, ARK – Arkansas Little Rock dominated Memphis from start to finish, winning 10-4. The Tigers could never string together productive at-bats, as they were held to four hits on the afternoon. On the contrary, the Trojans of UALR quadrupled that number, totaling 16 base knocks. Memphis Head Coach Matt Riser said the team did not counter the Trojan’s early onslaught.

    “I just wasn’t pleased with our effort,” Riser said. “We gave up three in the first and didn’t respond very well.” 

    Memphis sophomore starting pitcher Cade Davis was rudely greeted by the bats of Arkansas Little Rock. Trojan second baseman Skyler Trevino led the charge, tallying four hits and two RBIs. UALR chased Davis from the game after 3 2/3 innings of work, allowing five earned runs and eight hits.  

    A pair of Trojan errors kept Memphis within striking distance early, but to no avail. The Tigers were sent down in order in five out of nine innings. Arkansas Little Rock starting pitcher Jack Cline gave the Trojans a quality outing, giving up two runs on as many hits in 4 2/3 innings.  

    The lone standouts offensively for Memphis were second baseman Duante Stuart and right fielder Pierre Seals, as the duo collected each of the Tigers’ four hits. Stuart’s double in the fourth inning represented the only extra-base hit of the day for Memphis.  

    Seals had a pair of RBI singles, and catcher Jonah Sutton drove in the other two runs for the Tigers with a sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice.  

    Memphis went to the bullpen three times in the contest. Seth Garner, Jackson Lyons, and Malik Harris each took the mound for the Tigers.  

    Memphis third baseman Austin Baskin committed the Tigers’ only error of the afternoon in the 8th inning. The mishap proved to be costly, as the runner came around to score later in the inning.  

    Trojan reliever Thomas Kuykendall was a key part of the victory. He struck out seven batters and allowed one earned run in 4 1/3 innings. Kuykendall shut down any attempt at a comeback for Memphis by retiring the last nine batters of the game in order.  

    Memphis drops to 1-3 on the season. The Tigers return to Memphis tomorrow for their home opener against Central Arkansas. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at FedEx Avron Fogelman Field.  

  • Memphis Baseball Ties Series Against Jacksonville State

    Memphis Baseball Ties Series Against Jacksonville State

    Jacksonville, Ala.—The University of Memphis Tigers baseball team defeated Jacksonville State 7-4 Saturday to tie the three-game series at one each. Coach Matt Riser earned his first win with the Tigers and 321st of his career.

    Photos by Brock Busick/University of Memphis Baseball
    Coach Matt Riser recorded his first win at the helm of the Memphis baseball program. Saturday’s 7-4 victory over Jacksonville State marked Riser’s 321st career win.

    Austin Baskin struck first, putting the Tigers on board early in the top of the 1st inning with his first RBI of the season. He hit a double to the left-center field.

    Jacksonville State tied the game in the 2nd inning with a bases-loaded hit by pitch from Michael Dallas.

    The Tigers’ regained the lead with Jacob Compton’s first solo home run of the game in the top of the third inning.

    Jacksonville State added one in the bottom of the third off the hit of Derrick Jackson Jr. to tie the ballgame 2-2.

    An RBI-triple from Pierre Seals and an RBI double from Alex Fernandes, his first hit of the game, extended the Tigers lead to 4-2 in the fourth inning.

    The hits and runs continued in the fifth inning. Aaron Smigelski and Daunte Stuart hit back-to-back home runs, a first for each this season.

    “The offense showed up again there early in the game and mentally we got to continue to grow and get stronger to finish off some games,” coach Matt Riser said.

    Seth Cox made his pitching debut walking the first batter before recording back-to-back strikeouts heading into the ninth inning.

    “I really enjoyed seeing what he did and that’s a great job of separating,” Riser said. “[Seth Cox] didn’t have a great day at the plate at all, and really had a big day yesterday, so he could’ve carried that over to the mound.”

    Riser commended his team for handling the Friday afternoon marathon 13-inning loss and coming back Saturday with a superior offensive showing.

    “I’m proud of the guys bouncing back after a tough game last night,” Riser said. “I thought again we had some big plays, some big moments, and I think this time we finished it.”

    UP NEXT
    Memphis and Jacksonville State will face off in their series finale on Sunday. First pitch between the Tigers and Gamecocks at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN+