The Tigerpen

Tag: Baseball

  • The Hard Hitter :Pierre Seals

    Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

    Memphis Tigers’ outfielder Pierre Seals shines brightly amidst a season filled with both triumphs and challenges for the team.  Seals was recently named to the ACC honor roll after an outstanding performance in the Tigers weekend series against conference leader at the time University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA). 

    In the UTSA series Seals recorded two hits and two Rbi on Friday (highest on the team), three hits with an RBI on Saturday and Sunday he totaled two hits and his ninth home run of the season tying him with teammate Jacob Compton for the most on the team.

    For that week Seals lead the league in hitting with a.583(7-for-12) batting average.  He scored four runs totaling 13 bases over the week. “I give the credit all to our coaches with the approaches we have.” Said Seals “Just prepping us for the game and giving us a plan so I just try to execute within the plan they give us.”

    Seals started his college career at Dyersburg State Community College where he committed to in high school.  In high school he was ranked #27 in the state of Tennessee and top 500 in the nation for the class of 2021.  At Dyersburg he would play in a total of 97 games 44 in his freshman season and 53 in this sophomore with a total batting average of .268 for his time there.

    Seals credits his older teammate with easing his transition to Memphis by constantly offering him advice on the game and their system.  With the addition of a new head coach everyone had to adjust and that also grew their bonds.

    Now in his first year with the Tigers he leads the team in multiple categories including home runs with nine, batting average .328 and stolen bases with 13 on the season. 

    “Of course, I think I had the talent, but I think my coaches really helped put it all together, just staying with my approach knowing what I’m good at and my ability had helped me evolve as a player,” said Seals.

    Seals has been a consistent bright spot for the Tigers in a turbulent season but knows there are still some parts of his game that can improve. “  My pitch recognition and swing and miss ratio, being able to recognize pitch is a thing to make sure I’m getting all the right pitches to swing at and being aggressive when I need to be.” Said Seals

    Through the ups and downs of this seasons Seals stays focus by not letting the highs get too high and the lows get to and keeping a level head by remembering it’s just baseball.  “Our coaches always talk about trusting the process, so just staying with the team playing for the team.” Said Seals “Staying consistent with focus day by day and going about it as a professional.”

    With the season winding down and the Tigers’ still sitting 4 games below .500 Seals will for sure be a key piece in making a late season push.

    “The key is to continue to work and execute the plan that the coaches have for us and stay consistent.” Said Seals.

  • Memphis Drops series Against Inter Rival Foe Charlotte 49ers 

    Memphis baseball on the road versus the 49ers at Robert & Mariam Hayes Stadium (Image Credit: Brock Busick / Memphis Athletics)

    By: Chandler Black and Aaliyah Brown

    CHARLOTTE, NC – The University of Memphis Tigers baseball team traveled to Charlotte to face a new rival in the 49ers, who are in their first year in the AAC. Memphis aimed to secure some conference wins this weekend to strengthen their resume, but they ultimately fell short on the road, swept in the series and losing four games in a row.

    Game 1

    David Warren started pitching for Memphis, while Cole Reynolds took the mound for Charlotte. Will Marcy began the game with a double down the third base line.

    Memphis took a 2-0 lead in the first inning after a double by Austin Baskin and a sac-fly. Pierre Seals drew a walk to load the bases early on, setting up the scoring opportunity.

    In the second inning, the offense maintained their momentum. Brennan DuBose hit a solo shot to deep center field, extending the lead to three runs. This was DuBose’s seventh home run of the season.

    The 49ers’ bats awakened in the third inning, as Carson Bane hit a sac-fly to score a run. The Tigers turned a double play, but Charlotte added another run. Memphis led 3-2 after three innings.

    Charlotte maintained their momentum in the 4th, tying the game at 3 runs apiece with an RBI double from Kaden Hopsen. With two outs in the fifth and the bases loaded, Charlotte was able to escape the half inning thanks to a strikeout from Jacob Compton.

    The 49ers offense kept rolling after escaping a bases loaded jam. Brandon Stahlman’s RBI single gave his team the lead, and Shane Taylor’s triple brought home Noah Furcht for a 5-3 advantage.

    With the game on the line, Memphis faced their final three outs. In the 9th inning, they had two runners on and one out. Austin Baskin’s walk loaded the bases for Daunte Stuart, creating a dramatic finale.

    Stuart struck out, leaving Memphis with their final out. A wild pitch allowed one more tiger to score, but it was too much to overcome. Charlotte took game one with a final score of 6-4.

    After the game, head coach Matt Riser said, “They grabbed the momentum and just ran with it…that’s how you win ball games. Those middle innings will always beat you.” 

    Doubleheader at Charlotte

    The University of Memphis baseball team dropped its final two games against South Florida on Saturday evening, losing by scores of 12-11 and 5-4 at Robert & Mariam Hayes Stadium.

    With the loss, the Tigers are four games under .500 to a record of 18-22 and 6-9 in AAC play, while the 49ers improve to 19-21 and 8-7 in the conference. 

    “I thought the guys competed well, but the story of the weekend was we lost by a combined four runs and left 30 runners on base, and they left 15 on base,” head coach Matt Riser said. 

    Will Macy led off the top of the first inning with a single in game one of a doubleheader. The Tigers scored a run after Pierre Seals’ sacrifice fly to right field, giving them an early 1-0 advantage.

    The 49ers started strong with Shane Taylor’s lead-off single, followed by Carson Bayne’s two-run homer at the bottom of the first, giving Charlotte a 3-1 lead.

    In the second inning, Memphis responded with a run after Marcy’s double drove in Aaron Smigelski, putting the Tigers on the board for two runs. Jake Curtis’ two-run single gave Memphis the lead 4-3.

    Bayne hit his second home run of the game for Charlotte at the bottom of the third inning to tie it up at 4-4.

    Jonah Sutton’s fourth-inning home run gave the Tigers a 5-4 lead, and the team went on to load the bases following a Jacob Compton walk.

    Seals hit his second double of the game by the top of the sixth, bringing Compton up to bat for the Tigers, who hit a two-run homer to give Memphis a 9-4 lead.

    After a two-hour weather delay for lightning, the 49ers came out swinging in the bottom of the sixth, with Dante DeFranco scoring the first run and Shane Taylor hitting a two-out single to cut the lead to 9-6.

    The 49ers tied the game 9-9 in the seventh inning after two RBI singles and a sacrifice fly. Jacob Compton would come up to bat at the top of the eighth hitting his second home run of the ballgame to give Memphis a 11-9 lead.

    In the bottom of the ninth inning, down by two runs, Juan Correa hit a solo home run and Bayne hit his third homer of the game to tie the score. With no pressure on the 49ers after tying the game, pinch hitter AJ Bianchina went up to bat. A walk-off homer would give the 49ers a 12-11 victory over the Tigers.

    Game 3

    Despite their efforts to avoid a sweep and earn a conference victory, the Tigers were edged out by the 49ers in a one-run game, losing 5-4.

    Charlotte took an early 3-0 lead for the first time this series in the bottom of the first inning after an RBI double from Juan Correa and two RBI singles. The Tigers responded with three runs of their own to tie the game 3-3 in the sixth. 

    Daunte Stuart scored off a double from Pierre Seals, making it a 3-2 ballgame. Brennan DuBose’s RBI single tied the game, but the 49ers regained the lead with a RBI single. Memphis responded with a single from Austin Baskin to tie the game. 

    In the 7th inning, the 49ers scored on a sacrifice fly to take the lead 5-4. Neither team scored in the final two innings, giving Charlotte the series sweep over the Tigers.

    UP NEXT

    Memphis will return to FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field on Tuesday for a one game match against Mississippi State at 6 p.m.  

  • Tigers Offense Shows Off on Saturday – Memphis Evens the Series Against UTSA

    Tigers Offense Shows Off on Saturday – Memphis Evens the Series Against UTSA

    The Memphis Tigers have bounced back after their loss on Friday night. Against the conference-leading UTSA Roadrunners, they scored twelve runs, while only giving up five. A balanced offense was the key as the Tigers scored in six of the nine innings with a total of eight players contributing a run.

    Both teams started off quick as each one scored a run early in the first inning. UTSA contributed another run in the second, but just as it looked as both teams would go blow for blow, the Tigers blew the game wide open. A total of five runs in the second saw Memphis jump up in front big – a lead that they would not give up for the whole game. Coach Riser was more than pleased with his offense after the game: “The hitters did a really good job of digging in. They had some big at-bats for us with big moments early.”

    Austin Baskin slides home for a Tigers run. He added another one later on. Photo: Florian Krempel

    Starting pitcher Seth Garner had a good showing on the day. After giving up the two runs in the first two innings, he would only allow two more runs during his five played innings. Although the Tigers defense had a couple of easy errors with pitches sailing high over first base, UTSA was not able to capitalize completely.

    Luke Ellis pitching in the last inning. He finished the game for the Tigers. Photo: Florian Krempel

    The Tigers offense on the other side did not take the foot of the gas pedal as they continued their scoring after the big second inning. Over the next four, they added another six runs to put the game out of reach. Something that, according to coach Riser was immensely important: “We knew, we had to keep the pressure on UTSA. We did a really good job with that.”

    When Seth Garner’s day was over, Luke Ellis filled in on the mount. He continued the great pitching performance for Memphis. Over the last four innings, he only allowed one more run for UTSA. The combination of Garner and Ellis already worked for the second time after the same duo finishing off Rice University last Saturday. Coach Riser was full of praise for the tow after the game: “Both of them did a fantastic job. The helped us to get through some difficult stuff today as we did not play great defense today.”

    The Tigers offense was on form on Saturday. They scored a total of twelve runs. Photo: Florian Krempel

    With using only two pitchers on the day, coach Matt Riser looked forward to having a full bullpen for tomorrow’s rubber match. The Roadrunners, on the other hand, had to burn through another five pitchers on the day. After using the same amount yesterday, tomorrow’s pitching will be something to keep an eye on.

    Matt Riser hopes for his team to put on a good showing in all aspects of the game: “We did pitch really well and swung the bat really well. Let’s put all aspects of the game, also the defense, together tomorrow and go win the series.”  

    The series decider between the Memphis Tigers and the UTSA Roadrunner will kick off at 1 pm at FedEx Park.

  • Tigers Rally Falls Short In Series Opener Against UTSA

    Tigers Rally Falls Short In Series Opener Against UTSA

    After a slow start, both teams would combine for 12 runs starting in the sixth inning. Memphis would tie the game in the eighth, but a four-run ninth inning for the UTSA Roadrunners would secure them the 9-6 win to open the series.

    The Tigers would strike first in the bottom half of the opening frame after a sac fly from Jacob Compton would drive in the first run of the game.

    Then in the top of the second, a single from Mason Lytle would bring Hector Rodriguez to knot the game at 1-1.

    Lytle would continue his contributions with a triple in the fourth, which he go on to score after a sac fly from Alexander Olivio, giving the Roadrunners a 2-1 lead.

    The sixth inning would see the offenses wake up for both teams, as UTSA would start it off by hanging three runs on the board after a single from Olivio would drive in Lytle. Then later in the inning a single from Diego Diaz would bring in two more runners to make 5-1.

    The Tigers would claw back in the bottom half of the inning with a lead off single by Austin Baskin. Then, Pierre Seals would bring him in with a two-run home run, to bring it to 5-3.

    The Roadrunners would go scoreless in the seventh and eighth. But a deep drive to left by Brennan DuBose would bring it to 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh. Then with Daunte Stuart on first, Seals would hit a single into center field, with the fielder struggling to pick it up, Stuart would score. Making 5-5 going into the ninth inning.

    All the moment for the Tigers would stop there with them allowing four runs, with three errors committed. The Tigers would commit six throughout the entire game with Coach Matt Riser saying afterwards, “You make six errors in a ballgame, it makes extremely difficult to win.”

    The Tigers would attempt another in the bottom of the ninth with DuBose scoring of a Jake Curtis sac fly, but it would not be enough as the fall 9-6.

    The play again tomorrow at home with the game starting at 2 P.M.

  • Memphis Shuts Down Rice to Complete Sweep

    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.

  • ‘I Live Off Adrenaline’: Brayden Sanders is Memphis’ Guy for the Big Moments

    ‘I Live Off Adrenaline’: Brayden Sanders is Memphis’ Guy for the Big Moments

    With more than half of the season played, the Tigers are still not sure where the team is standing. Bright flashes with big wins are promptly followed by devastating losses only a few days later. So far the Bullpen especially lacks any form of consistency. To one guy this does not apply – Brayden Sanders. He is coach Riser’s man when things get tight.

    It is the seventh inning of game one against Florida Atlantic. David Warren has just delivered the best outing of his career as starting pitcher. He tallied seven innings, over a hundred pitches thrown and only one run allowed. But now, his arm gets tired. The score is 2 – 1 for Memphis and the bases are loaded for FAU. What now? For head coach Matt Riser, it is clear what to do. It is time for Brayden Sanders: “When Brayden is in the game, you know it is over.”

    And so, it comes: Although FAU loads the bases twice in the last two innings, they are not able to score another run. After the final pitch the Tigers’ dugout erupts – a 2 – 1 victory for Memphis. After the game, Sanders talked about his performance: “As a closer, it is the best feeling ever. It is everybody’s dream. It is the best feeling in baseball.”

    Brayden Sanders after his game-winning pitch against FAU. Jacob Morgan/Tigerpen

    While Memphis’ season continues to be up-and-down, Brayden Sanders is one bright spot for the Tigers. So far, he has appeared in eleven games and has pitched for 16.1 innings. During these appearances, he only allowed three runs for the opponent. His ERA right now is at 1.65 and he has recorded a whopping 26 strikeouts.

    His personal success also translates onto the whole team: From the eleven games he has played in, the Tigers won eight. In six of the matches, he was credited with a save, supporting the argument of coach Riser: When Brayden Sanders is in the game, the game is over most of the time.

    Sanders was born in Olive Branch in Mississippi. He started his college career in Ole Miss in 2021. Before that, he attended Lewisburg High School, where he played baseball for the Patriots. During his time there, he started to show his potential: In March 2020, he pitched a complete game no-hitter, striking out 13 and driving in two runs himself. In his junior season, which was cut short due to the COVID-pandemic, he recorded a 1.71 ERA while striking out 27 hitters in only 16 innings. He improved these numbers even more in his senior campaign to a 1.50 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 37 innings.

    With those stats he was ranked as the number four RHP and the number 10 overall player in Mississippi coming out of high school. After he spent his first semester at Ole Miss, he transferred to Northwest Mississippi Community College. For the Rangers, he appeared 13 times on the mound. During that, he struck out 53 batters across 36.1 innings. His season high came against Wallace State, when he recorded eight strikeouts in the game. Prior to the 2023 season, he signed with the Memphis Tigers.

    Now, one season later, head coach Matt Riser values his skills as the closer highly. After the win against FAU, he had nothing but praise for Brayden Sanders: “If you want to win a championship or have an opportunity to win championships, you got to have a guy that can finish games. Brayden has proven that time and time again.”

    What Sanders also has shown time and time again this season, is that he can stay focused on the bench during long games and take over when he is needed. “I have a routine that I do every single game, whether I come in or not. This keeps me in the game and lose, in case they need me in the eighth or the ninth inning”, he said after the FAU game.

    Brayden Sanders right before a pitch. Jacob Morgan/Tigerpen

    When his name gets called, Sanders has to deliver. For that, he often tries to remind himself that he is good enough and feed off the trust that his coach and his team have in him. Shortly before the pitch, he then shuts his head off: “I really don’t try to think too much, when I am out there. I don’t want a lot going through my mind out there,” said Sanders.

    Then, he approaches each pitch individually. “I hit them with my best stuff. When they hit it, I trust my defense. When they swing and miss or I walk them, then I get the next batter,” said Sanders. A strategy that seems to be working.

    Brayden Sanders loves team sports. He needs to feel the trust by his team to deliver consistently. Likewise, he also tries to pick up his teammates. Like in the game against Florida Atlantic: In the ninth inning, Jake Curtis missed a critical catch to load the bases for FAU once more. But Sanders stayed calm: “I told him: “Don’t worry, I got you”. And then I got out there and had his back.”

    As the season progresses, the Tigers will definitely continue to turn to Brayden Sanders, when things get close. His ability to finish games might prove to be essential, if the team can become more consistent and stay in the game till the end. His team and most of all coach Riser rely on their best closer: “What he has overcome all year long and he continues to perform: I am just really proud of that young man.”

  • Tigers Win Series Opener in 15

    Tigers Win Series Opener in 15

    Photo Credit: Brock Busick/Memphis Athletics

    The Memphis Tigers defeat the Rice Owls in Houston in the series opener 4-3 in a 15-inning marathon.

    David Warren took the mound for the Tigers as a starter, and the start looked rather ominous as the right-handed senior let in the first run of the game on a single in the bottom of the first inning.

    Fortunately, the Tigers were able to answer right back in the next half-inning on a double steal play that saw Pierre Seals steal second which allowed Daunte Stuart a free lane to steal home.

    A back and forth affair began when the Owls scored again on an RBI single in the next half-inning to give them a 2-1 lead.

    Then, that was quickly answered back in the top of the third when Will Marcy scored on an RBI groundout by Austin Baskin to tie the game at two.

    After that, Warren seemed to settle in and really dominate the Owls lineup. Through the next five innings, Warren would only allow one hit to give the Tigers’ bats multiple chances at taking the lead.

    Meanwhile, the Tigers were having their struggles against Rice’s starting pitcher Parker Smith who also settled on the mound after a shaky start

    What started out looking like another offensive shootout for the Tigers, turned into a pitcher’s duel and just waiting to see who would break through first.

    That answer would come in the top of the eighth when Austin Baskin came through yet again with a sacrifice fly to score Will Marcy to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.

    Warren now had a chance to have a complete game shutout. He began the bottom of the ninth on the mound, but after a leadoff double, he was pulled from the game for closer Brayden Sanders.

    The runner would subsequently come across the plate to tie the game, leaving Warren with a stat line of 8+ innings, giving up seven hits, three runs, one walk, and three strikeouts.

    “I was really proud of Dave…to be able to pitch into the ninth was huge,” head coach Matt Riser said.

    Sanders would get out of the ninth with the game still tied, taking the game to extras. He then would get out of a bases loaded jam in the 10th to keep the game alive.

    JT Durham was tabbed as the pitcher for the extra innings, and he would deliver in a big way. Durham shut down the Owls’ offense for the majority of the extra innings to once again give the Tigers a chance.

    That chance would finally come in the 15th when Will Marcy singled home Alex Fernandes to give the Tigers’ a 4-3 lead.

    Durham would get the first out of the bottom of the 15th before being pulled, giving a stat line of 4.1 innings pitched, no runs, three hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.

    “The only way we win that is if JT did what he did, throwing up zeroes.” Riser added.

    Jake Curtis was switched from the infield to pitcher to close out the game. Curtis would get the final two outs to finally close this game out for the Tigers.

    The Tigers now have a chance to clinch the series on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Reckling Park in Houston, Texas on ESPN+

  • Tigers defeat Ole Miss in Mid-South Rematch

    Tigers defeat Ole Miss in Mid-South Rematch

    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. 

  • Tigers split Saturday Doubleheader with UNO

    Tigers split Saturday Doubleheader with UNO

    The University of Memphis Tiger split their doubleheader against the University of New Orleans Privateers on Saturday.  The Tigers now move to an 11-11 record on the season and the Privateers to 9-10.

    Brock Busick/Memphis Baseball

    The Tigers dropped game one early in the afternoon 6-1 with their only run coming from a RBI by Austin Baskin in the third bringing Alex Fernandes home.  They would fail to score the rest of the game while the Privateers scored in the first, second, fourth, seventh and eighth innings. 

    “We ran into a good arm, and he did a really good job keeping us off balance” said head coach Matt Riser “We had to reset for game two and I thought the guys did a fantastic job of that.”

    After a disappointing game on reset is exactly what the Tigers did, winning game two 12-10 in a game where they tripled their hit totals from game one.  Both teams would come out scoreless in the first inning which would one of only two scoreless innings by the tigers this game.

    The Tigers were able to get on the board first after scoring three run in the second inning headed off by a RBI from Will Macy allowing Pierre Seals to score.  Seth Cox would follow with 2 RBI allowing Fernandes and Brennan DuBose to score, already tripling their runs from game one. 

    They also held the Privateers to no runs until the fourth inning but by then the Tigers had tacked on three more runs. Two runs in the third from a homer by Daunte Stuart and a home stolen by Seals and one run in third from a Baskin home run which was his third in the season.  The Privateers scored their first two run in fourth making the score 6-2 at the close of the inning.

    In the fifth the Tigers wouldn’t score, but only allowed one run from the Privateers keeping them at bay for the moment.  But in the sixth after only allowing one run from the Tigers the Privateers would rally and scored four runs tying the score at 7-7 going into the seventh.

    DuBose put the Tigers on the board with a single RBI that scored Seals and the Tigers defense would hold off the Privateers allowing no runs and taking a 8-7 lead headed into the eighth.  Tiger scored two runs in the eighth inning a RBI by Jacob Compton and seals giving the Tigers a three run lead. 

    The Privateers would answer with three runs of their own including another two-run home run by Mitchell Sanford, the same play that tied the game in the sixth now tied the game heading into the ninth.

    After two outs defensive replacement Shane Cox would get his first and only at bat in the game and he singled into left field this allow both Baskin and Tyler Heckert to score opening a 10-12 lead late.  The Tigers defense came out and held the Privateers to nothing in the ninth after a pick off at first by Dubose and Brayden Sanders stuck out the final out of the game earing his second save of series and fifth on the season.

    The Tigers will  head to Starkville, Mississippi on Tuesday to face off against the 14-6 Mississippi State for a midweek game at 6 p.m.

  • How Has the Memphis Locker Room Reacted to a Losing Season up to this Point?

    How Has the Memphis Locker Room Reacted to a Losing Season up to this Point?

    MEMPHIS – The University of Memphis baseball team went through a lot changes during this past off season. The team saw a few seniors graduate but replaced them with some very good acquisitions in the transfer portal. The biggest move that the team made was naming Matt Riser as their head coach for their 2024 campaign.

    There was a lot of hope surrounding this squad early before this season started. They added some quality players while bringing back some upper classmen to maintain their culture. Riser had a lot of success Southeastern Louisiana, and the goal was for that success to roll over into Memphis.

    So far, this season has been very up and down for the Tigers. They have had some quality wins and have shown that they do not quit and can erase big leads. The team has also blown some double digit run leads in late innings and has had some bullpen liabilities. They are never truly out of a game, but no lead feels exactly safe either.

    The pitching woes have been a story all season long. The Tigers have had some decent starting pitching, but the bullpen has been giving up some big innings. “Real difficult to have success when your bullpen comes out and pitches like that (after Memphis’ loss to FAU). We got to stay in ballgames, obviously disappointing,” said Riser.

    Memphis currently sits at 13-17. Conference play just started, and the team is 2-6 through the four games. They do have big home matchups coming up against Ole Miss and Mississippi State. If they can start winning some conference games and knock off these teams, they could start to make some noise towards the end of the year.

    “Not a whole lot to say right now, it’s a matter of doing now,” said coach Matt Riser. “You get to a point in time where either you can do it or you can’t do it. That’s the point we’re at now.”

    The season a is a little over the halfway point now. Memphis seems to think that it is do or die time for their team. Coach Riser said that some changes are going to have to be made right now in order for this team to turn things around.

    “There has to be (major lineup changes). Some things have to shake up a little bit. We don’t have a whole lot to shake it with to be honest with you, what you see is what you got. There will be a few guys that get some more opportunities,” said Riser.

    The locker room as well has a feel that is now the time for them to turn things around. Closing pitcher Brayden Sanders said, “After every game we tell ourselves that we are 0-0. The next one is the one that matters. We just got to attack it day by day.”

    It will be very interesting to see how Memphis responds in the back half of this season. Their next game is at home against Ole Miss on April 2nd, at 6 p.m. “We’ve got 48 hours to reflect and see what we want to do. We are at the halfway point,” said Riser.