The Tigers fell short in a back-and-forth affair against Jackson State, losing 6-4 in 10 innings. Memphis finishes the weekend 0-3 and has dropped five consecutive contests.
“At some point we have to pick ourselves up,” said head coach Matt Riser. “The good news is we have games coming up to prove ourselves different, but we have to get collectively back together as a team.”
The Tigers continued their offensive struggles, tallying just four hits in the game. The lone highlight came when Jacob Compton launched a two-run shot over the right field fence. The home run was Compton’s third of the weekend and eighth of the season, leading all hitters in the AAC.
Starting pitcher Caden Robinson put together a solid outing, allowing one earned run on four hits in five innings. Two unearned runs scored in his tenure, both coming from errors by shortstop Jake Curtis.
“I thought Caden pitched his way through some tough situations,” added Riser. “We did not make a lot of plays behind him, but he handled it well and kept us in the game.”
The Memphis bullpen had another strong showing, holding Jackson State to one run in six innings of regulation. Logan Rushing, Kylan Stepter and Brayden Sanders each contributed and kept the game alive for the Tigers.
After Memphis failed to score in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jackson State took the lead on an RBI double by second baseman Myles White and extended it with an RBI single from Robert Tate II.
The Tigers were unable to match Jackson State in the bottom half of the inning, going down in order.
After the defeat, Memphis holds a record of 7-10 on the season. The Tigers return to action on Tuesday, when they face the University of North Alabama Lions at FedEx Park at 6 p.m.
Memphis was defeated in their second game of the inaugural Grind City Classic by the Presbyterian Blue Hose. The 4-1 outcome marks the fourth consecutive loss for the Tigers.
“We are in a serious rut that we have to get out of,” said head coach Matt Riser. “It does not matter what happens, tomorrow is a day where you do not lose.”
Memphis’s offense was held to one run on five hits in the contest. The lone run of the game came via a no-doubt home run by Pierre Seals, his fifth of the season. The Tigers failed to string together hits, as they did not have multiple in any inning throughout the entire game.
Presbyterian starter Charlie McDaniel worked seven innings and gave up one run on three hits. Despite only recording three strikeouts, he coaxed weak contact to retire most of the Memphis hitters he faced.
Tigers starting pitcher Luke Ellis had a rocky outing, giving up four runs on seven hits in three innings. “We need him to take a step forward for us,” said Riser. Ellis received the loss for his effort.
Despite getting off to a rough start, Memphis was able to stay within reach, thanks to an outstanding relief performance from Seth Garner. Garner threw five scoreless innings, giving up no hits and striking out eight Presbyterian batters.
Kylan Stepter took the mound in the ninth and worked a scoreless inning, setting up the Tigers with a potential rally.
Duante Stuart reached base via an infield single, giving the Tigers momentum. However, Presbyterian reliever Kyle Mueller retired Jacob Compton and Pierre Seals, securing the save and the win for the Blue Hose.
With the loss, Memphis falls to 7-9 on the season. The Tigers will play their final game of the Grind City Classic against Jackson State on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Jacob Morgan/Tigerpen Tiger centerfielder at bat Will Marcy versus Bowling Green at the FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field.
The 10 teams in the American Athletic Conference have a combined record of 59-53 to start the 2024 baseball season. East Carolina is ranked 11th among the top 25 D-1 baseball. UAB and Rice are the only two teams below .500.
East Carolina University Pirates (7-4)
The Pirates opened up the week facing off against four teams in a one-game stretch. After winning two straight against No.15 ranked North Carolina, they lost on the road Tuesday against Old Dominion 5-6. Then on Friday faced Purdue at home winning 7-1. ECU closed out the weekend at home against Cal State Fullerton and Southeastern Louisiana. The Pirates won 2-1 and lost 9-11 against Southeastern Louisiana. The 11th-ranked Pirates will meet VCU in the two-game series at home. Next up the Pirates take on VCU in a two-game series.
University of Memphis Tigers (7-6)
The Tigers are above .500 so far this season and tied the two-game series against UT Martin at home. They took on Wright State in a three-game weekend series, winning 2-1. Memphis were looking for their first series sweep but fell short in the finale of the series 17-7. This marks the Tiger’s second straight series win. They now go to Oxford, Miss., to face Ole Miss (8-5) in a one-game match. The Rebels are on a two-game winning streak and have a 6-3 record at home.
Florida Atlantic University Owls ( 6-5)
The Owls finished the week with a 2-3 record. They faced off against UCF in a one-game series at home and lost 6-11. UCF have won 5 of their last 6 games with a record of 8-1 (.889). Then on Wednesday, losing the game against UNF 6-8. The Owls went on to win the three-game series against Stonehill. This week they face off against No.4 Florida.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 49ers (6-6)
The 49ers opened up the week with a one game series 3-2 win Tuesday at home against the Wofford Terriers who have a record above .500 (9-2). They then went on the road to Norfolk, VA to face Old Dominion in a three-game series, losing 2-1. The 49ers are back at home Tuesday against Western Carolina and then take on Maryland in a three-game weekend series.
University of South Florida Bulls (5-5)
The Bulls went to Tallahassee, FL to take on Florida State. They went on to lose 4-12 in a one-game. Then on Friday they opened up the three-game weekend series on the road against UCF losing 1-2. They face off against a North Florida team who have won six straight games.
Caden Robinson walks off the field after a rough outing. Photo by James Brisentine
The Memphis Tigers lose the series finale to the Wright State Raiders 17-7. The Tigers were still able to win the series with their wins on Friday and Saturday, and their record now sits 7-6.
“Obviously giving up 17 runs, it’s tough to win,” coach Matt Riser said after the game.
The box score tells the tale, with Wright State scoring at least one run in every inning except the first and ninth.
The first inning saw starter Caden Robinson breezing through the order with ease, only for the wheels to come off in second inning with six runs coming across to put the Tigers in a big hole early.
Robinson loaded the bases early and was not able to recover, giving up three runs on two singles, a walk, and a bases clearing double.
Memphis got a run back in the second inning to make it 6-1, but a two-run home run by the Raiders in the third inning marked the end of the day for Robinson. He exited with a line of 2 2/3 innings pitched, eight runs allowed on seven hits, three walks, and four strikeouts.
JT Durham was inserted for a couple of innings of relief duty. He went 2 1/3 innings while giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits, one walk, and two strikeouts.
An Austin Baskin RBI double in the fourth inning was all the offense the Tigers could muster in the middle third of the game, leaving Memphis in a 11-2 deficit.
After Durham was pulled from the game, Riser turned to five different pitchers to close out the final four innings.
Malik Harris, Brandon Chorzelewski, Waylon Sebren, Jonah Posey, and Ethan Vandament all took the mound in the final four innings for the Tigers
“We need some of the guys in the pitching staff [to find their roles],” Riser said. “It might be just to get one or two outs for us.”
The five pitchers combined for six runs on seven hits (all hits and runs were charged to Harris and Sebren), six walks, and two strikeouts.
During that time, the Tigers offense tried to fight back with three-run sixth inning, courtesy of a two-run double by Daunte Stuart, followed by an RBI single from Jacob Compton to make it 12-5.
It seemed that Wright State had an answer for every attempt at a comeback by the Tigers.
Three runs by Memphis were met with a two-run home run in the next half-inning by Wright State to make it 14-5.
Two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning by the Tigers made it 14-7. However, Wright State added three more runs of their own in the eight inning to push their lead to double digits.
The Tigers are back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Oxford, Mississippi to take on the Ole Miss Rebels at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Jacob Compton celebrates his second home run. Photo by James Brisentine
The Memphis Tigers beat the Wright State Raiders 13-12 on a walk-off single by Austin Baskin in the ninth to clinch the series win. This win also puts the Tigers’ record at 7-5 on the season.
“What a game. I think the impressive part for our club is we’re learning, and there’s no quit.” Head coach Matt Riser said after the game.
The game started out as great as the sunny, 70-degree weather for the Tigers with a three-run bottom of the first thanks to an RBI single by Will Marcy, followed by a two-run home run by Jacob Compton.
Luke Ellis was on the mound for the Tigers and was looking strong to start with two solid innings to begin. Then, came the third when Wright State began to get to Ellis, scoring two runs in the inning and threatening to score more. Fortunately, Ellis was able to get out of the inning with the lead intact.
The same could not be said about the fourth inning with three runs coming across the plate for the Raiders, giving them a 5-3 lead.
That would be all for Ellis, and the lefty from Somerville finished with four innings pitched, 5 runs (three earned), eight hits, one walk, and four strikeouts.
Jackson Lyons would come in to pitch the fifth inning. After loading the bases and then walking in a run with the bases loaded, Lyons was yanked.
Seth Cox came in to get out of the fifth inning and really stabilized a reeling Tigers team. He put in a stellar 2 1/3 innings, allowing only one hit, one walk, and four strikeouts.
“For Seth Cox to come in there and bounce back after his last outing, just really pleased to see that,” Riser added.
Cox’s stability gave the Tigers the chance to bounce back now down 8-3, and they did with a five-run bottom of the fifth, capped off with a three-run homer by Jacob Compton, his second of the day. This tied the game back up back at eight, going into the sixth inning
The bottom of the sixth saw the Tigers tack on three runs to give them an 11-8 lead thanks to a throwing error by Wright State.
The eighth inning would see the Tigers’ three run lead evaporate with Logan Rushing coming and being unable to get anyone out and loading up the bases, all who would eventually score to tie the back up at 11.
The top of the ninth saw leadoff hitter Jake Curtis be called upon to pitch, and while letting in an unearned run, was able to get out of the inning and gave the Tigers a chance to tie and/or win it in the ninth.
Brennan DuBose was first to get on base with a single, then stole second, was able to advance to third on a throwing error by the catcher, and then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.
Jake Curtis, who again just pitched the previous half-inning, hit a two-out double to be the potential game-winning run.
An intentional walk to Will Marcy gave Austin Baskin the chance to be the hero for the Tigers. He would not disappoint with a walk-off single to clinch the game and the series against Wright State.
The Tigers will go for the series sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m. at FedEx Park.
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.
The Memphis Tigers lost game one of their two-game series Tuesday against the UT-Martin Skyhawks 10-7, dropping them to a 4-5 record on the season.
“We just have to find consistency,” said coach Matt Riser. “Either that or get these games off ESPN+, because these last two have been just terrible.”
On a windy afternoon at FedEx Park, the game started out promising for Memphis. The Tigers took an early 3-0 lead, thanks to an Austin Baskin RBI single in the first inning and a two-run home run by Pierre Seals in the second inning.
Cade Davis took the mound as the starter for the Tigers and was able to keep the Skyhawks at bay through the first four innings, only allowing a solo home run in the third inning.
UT-Martin gave the run back in the fourth inning via another home run by Pierre Seals. The solo shot gave the Memphis native his fourth home run of the season and his second multi-home run game of the season.
Unfortunately, the Skyhawks plated seven runs in the fifth inning, and Cade Davis was pulled from the game, giving him a final stat line of nine hits, eight runs (seven earned), one walk, and five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
“I thought Cade was fine. We just have to play better defense behind him.” Riser said. “Our defensive philosophy is to eliminate the big inning, and when you do what we did, not playing defense behind our pitcher and give up a seven-run inning, it makes it extremely difficult.”
Reliever Seth Cole ended the fifth inning and began the sixth inning for the Tigers, but he was later pulled after giving up two more runs to UT-Martin extending their lead to 10-4 .
Jackson Lyons took over ending the sixth inning, and pitching two more, giving up only one hit and one walk in his time on the mound.
First baseman Jacob Compton cut into the Skyhawks lead in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run over the video board in right field to make it a 10-5 game. It was the Olive Branch native’s third home run of the season.
NC State transfer Will Marcy added another solo home run, his first with the Tigers, to make it 10-6 in the seventh inning.
Relievers Brandon Chorzelewski and Kylan Stepter got the last four UT-Martin batters out with ease to give the Tigers a chance at some late-inning runs.
Catcher Brennan DuBose gave the fans hope, continuing his hot streak with a solo home run in the ninth to make it 10-7. Unfortunately, that was all the team could muster in the ninth inning.
The Tigers have a chance to split the series with UT-Martin on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at FedEx Park.
The Memphis Tigers faced Bowling Green today in the last game of the weekend series. The Tigers won today 13-7 behind an 8 run fourth inning.
After dropping the first game and only scoring one run in that game Memphis’ offense stormed back. They scored 13 runs in the second game and the offensive power carried over into today’s game.
“I’m proud of the guys for bouncing back after Friday night.”
Matt Riser
Memphis scored twice in the first inning but they really started piling on the score in the fourth inning. It started with Brennan DeBose hitting a grand slam making it 6-2. Doubles from Jake Curtis and Will Marcy helped extend the lead to 7-2. Then a dropped fly out in right field brings in two more runs across to make it 9-2. Then Jacob Compton scored after another double from Daunte Stuart moving to 10-2 to close out a big fourth inning for the Tigers.
Bowling Green went through four pitchers in the fourth inning and ended up sending out eight pitchers in total in the game.
Memphis continued to add on runs in the fifth as Curtis brought home Alex Fernandes. Curtis ended up bringing in 3 RBI’s on 4 for 5 hitting on the day.
Bowling Green fought back into the game a bit in the sixth inning. It started with a run coming across to move it 11-3. But it did not end there as Leighton Banjoff hit a three run home run to move it to 11-6. Then to close it out DJ Newman drew a walk while bases were loaded to bring home another, making it 11-7.
Then in the bottom of seventh Jake Curtis hit another double to bring home DuBose and Fernandes to close out the scoring for the game at 13-7.
A series recap of the first Tigers home series of the season against Bowling Green State. Memphis won the series 2-1 to improve to 4-4 for the season.
Some key players were Jake Curtis who ended up bringing in 3 RBI’s on 4 for 5 hitting on the day. Brennan DuBose also had a big going 2 for 5 with 4 RBI’s. Caden Robinson also had a good day on the mound. He had 2 strikeouts and gave up 2 walks over 5.1 innings. Riser said after the game “I was really confident to put that guy out on Sunday” in reference to Robinson.
Memphis second baseman overcame injury to set records before transferring for final season
Long Road to Memphis
When Daunte Stuart was 14 years old, his parents moved the family from the Bahamas to the United States so his parents could attend college in Houston, Texas.
One of the things that traveled with Stuart on that long journey to the U.S.—his love of baseball.
“Growing up living in the Bahamas it’s different than over here,” Stuart said. “The biggest difference is that I was around family so much and the culture. It’s a smaller place where I’m from and I got to play a lot of baseball with my childhood friends.”
In Houston, Stuart played baseball for Woodlands High School before committing to Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
While at Northwestern State Stuart made his mark.
He tied the single-game school hitting record with three doubles, which scored two runs, in a loss against Stephen F. Austin.
During his senior season, he ranked second on the team with 40 RBIs and tied for third with seven home runs. Stuart broke the school record in single-game total stolen bases and single-game home runs (3).
His impressive season at Northwestern State caught the attention of Memphis, who reached out to Stuart when he announced his decision to enter the transfer portal as a graduate student for his last year of eligibility.
Stuart saw the chance to play for the Tigers as an opportunity to have his best season yet.
“I thought that Memphis would be a great program for me to play one of my best seasons possible,” Stuart said. “And be part of a team that I see having a successful season.”
The main goal for his final season? Putting it all out on the field so that when he looks back on his time at Memphis he can say he gave it his best.
Bouncing back from injury
A few years ago Stuart’s chances of playing for Memphis or any other school were in jeopardy.
In the last game of his Sophomore season at Northwestern State, he fractured his hamate bone, which forced him to be out for the entire summer.
When he returned for fall ball, the hamate bone fractured again, and surgery was needed right before his junior season.
“That whole process was a tough mental battle because I never had surgery before,” Stuart said. “So having to deal with that and understanding what it’s like to come back from a serious injury helped me become a stronger ball player.”
Missing out on baseball for seven months was a major setback, especially because the injury prevented him from being able to swing a bat. Despite months of recovering, Stuart said the injury made him stronger.
It was an emotional ride for Stuart, who felt like he was having to relearn how to swing a bat. But he came back in a big way.
The second baseman posted a career-high five hits in a game his junior season and went 4-for-9 with a double, four RBIs, and a home run in a doubleheader sweep of Alcorn State University.
“It’s easy to put in work when you just had a good game but when you haven’t got a hit in your last five or six games that shows this is something I really want to do,” Stuart said. “You have to love baseball and it has to be a part of who you are.”
Despite all the adversity, Stuart’s success on the baseball field is centered around his love for the game and those who inspire him to become the best version of himself.
Through the obstacles and challenges, Stuart defeated the odds and kept grinding no matter the circumstances. Stuart looks to finish his collegiate career with the Memphis Tigers baseball team, knowing that he left it all out there on the baseball field.
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 Ninthas 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 Tigerpen 