The Tigerpen

Tag: Daunte Stuart

  • Transfers Paving the Way for the Tiger Offense

    Transfers Paving the Way for the Tiger Offense

    Daunte Stuart prepares to face the opposing pitcher.
    Photo by Jacob Morgan/Tigerpen

    Throughout the season, the Tigers have received contributions from a myriad of players. Although the offense as a whole has struggled to produce for much of the year, there are a few outliers who have consistently put together good at-bats for Memphis. Daunte Stuart, Pierre Seals and Will Marcy have been the three best hitters for the Tigers on a game-to-game basis. What do these three players have in common; they are all transfers. 

    Daunte Stuart transferred to Memphis from Northwestern State University in Louisiana. In his four previous seasons, Stuart’s batting average ranged between .270 and .285. This season for the Tigers, he is hitting a career-high, .314, in 40 games played. When asked about the difference in his plate approach this season, Stuart said, “My swings have become cleaner, as I have focused on becoming a more consistent hitter.”  

    Daunte Stuart celebrates after coming around the bases to score.
    Photo by Florian Krempel/Tigerpen

    Not only is Daunte Stuart one of the best hitters for the Tigers; he is also one of the premiere offensive players in the American Athletic Conference. Among all qualified batters this season, Stuart ranks first in doubles with 15. He has also possessed great patience at the plate, drawing more walks than strikeouts. “The biggest aspect for me has been mental,” said Stuart. “I’ve been locked in on every pitch, looking for any advantage that I can get.” 

    Pierre Seals, unlike Stuart, transferred to Memphis after completing his freshman season in junior college. At Dyersburg State, Seals hit .294 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs. In just 39 games played, he has already amassed many of the totals from his previous campaign. “Having the guidance of the older guys in the locker room has been big for me and my development,” Seals said. “I’m from the Memphis area, so I have not had to go through an adjustment period with a change of scenery.” 

    Pierre Seals scores a run to extend the Tigers’ lead.
    Photo by Brock Busick/University of Memphis Athletics

    Despite only being a sophomore, Pierre Seals can be seen at the top of several offensive categories for the Tigers. He leads the team in batting average (.324), on-base percentage (.429) and slugging percentage (.581). Along with Daunte Stuart, Seals is tied for the team lead in hits at 48. “I give credit to my coaches, especially our hitting coach, who has prepared me well to lean into my strengths when facing opposing pitchers,” said Seals.  

    Like Stuart, Pierre Seals has been one of the best offensive players in the AAC. He ranks fifth in total bases (86) among all hitters in the league. Seals has also been active on the basepaths this season, tallying 14 stolen bases, which places him fourth in the conference. 

    Will Marcy steps to the plate, awaiting a pitch he can hit.
    Photo by Ronald Todd/Tigerpen

    Despite being named a preseason all-AAC first team selection, Will Marcy had a rough start to the 2024 season. Last season at North Carolina State University, Marcy hit .301 for the Wolfpack, but struggled at the plate late in the season. It took a few weeks for Marcy to become the Tigers’ everyday starter in center field. Once he settled in, Marcy began producing up to the expectations set for him.  

    In 35 games played this season, Will Marcy is hitting .304, which ranks third on the team (behind Daunte Stuart and Pierre Seals). He is also second in doubles (13) and stolen bases (12). Marcy has also been stellar defensively for the Tigers. He has a higher fielding percentage (.989) than every other starter on the diamond.  

  • Memphis Claims Monstrous Win to Kickoff Weekend Series on the Road

    Memphis Claims Monstrous Win to Kickoff Weekend Series on the Road

    TAMPA, FLA – The University of Memphis tigers began their three-game series against the University of South Florida Bulls tonight. They started the weekend on a very good note, obtaining 16-7 victory.

    The win was crucial, but another main story coming out of this game was Memphis second baseman Daunte Stuart. Stuart went 5-5 at the plate and managed to hit for the cycle. This skyrocketed his season average to .351 on the season. Matt Riser praising him post game saying “Story of the night, Daunte Stuart.”

    Stuart opened up the scoring for the Tigers. A solo homerun from him gave Memphis a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. USF would respond very quickly with a RBI single from Drew Brutcher that would give USF a 2 run lead in the home half of the inning.

    Memphis responded as Austin Baskin blasted his fourth long ball of the year to give the Tigers a 4-3 advantage on the road. The scoring in the third did not stop there; as a double by Pierre Seals drove in another run to extend the lead to two.

    The tigers would continue to pour it on.  An RBI from shortstop Jake Curtis drove in two more for Memphis. This would cause a USF pitching change, bringing Dominick Madonna in for the Bulls.

    This would not however put a stop to the on onslaught coming from the Tigers’ bats. Brennan DuBose smacked his fifth home run of the year, making it 9-3 in third, with nobody out. Memphis recorded eight runs on seven hits in the third alone.

    Things continued to roll for Riser’s squad. Jacob Compton hit a 2 run shot in the top of the fourth to give Memphis an even bigger cushion.

    Seth Cox hit a 2-run homer in the top of the fifth to keep the scoring streak alive. This made for five Memphis homers from five different players. A couple more RBI’s in the fifth from Jacob Compton and Pierre Seals made the score 15-3.

    USF was able to muster up four runs to cut the lead, but Memphis took one right back to get a 16-5 win. The Tigers ended up with 16 runs on a whooping 16 hits.

    After the game, head coach Riser said, “I’m really proud of our offense, they were about as locked in on a Friday night as they could possibly be. They had a great approach.”

    They face the USF Bulls again tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Red McEwen Field in Tampa, Florida.

  • Early Surge Propels Memphis to Friday Night Victory over New Orleans

    Early Surge Propels Memphis to Friday Night Victory over New Orleans

    Elisha Segars/Tigerpen
    Will Marcy looks to get on base for the Tigers during Friday’s game against UNO.

    The Tigers used a four-run first inning to take a lead that they would never relinquish, winning 5-4 over the New Orleans Privateers.  

    “We needed one like that where we just grinded it out,” said coach Matt Riser. “It was a great team effort.” 

    The first four batters of the game, Jake Curtis, Will Marcy, Austin Baskin and Daunte Stuart all reached base for Memphis before New Orleans could record an out. Stuart drove in Curtis with an RBI single, scoring the first run of the game. 

    Seth Cox delivered the biggest hit of the night, slapping a bases-clearing double down the left-field line to extend the Tigers’ lead to 4-0.  

    Starting pitcher David Warren gave the Tigers a quality outing in his fifth appearance of the season. He exited the contest after allowing two runs on four hits in seven innings. Warren would be tagged for two more runs after New Orleans scored a pair of his inherited baserunners on a double in the eighth inning.  

    After the first inning, Memphis only recorded one more hit the entire game. A sixth-inning single by Daunte Stuart proved to be massive, as he would come around to score on an errant pickoff attempt.  

    Relief pitcher Brayden Sanders closed the game for the Tigers. In his two-inning performance, he did not allow a run and only gave up one hit. Sanders struck out two New Orleans’ batters in the ninth inning and was awarded with his fourth save of the season. 

    The win is the third in a row for Memphis and brings them back to .500 on the season, with a record of 10-10. The Tigers and the Privateers will play a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 2 p.m. due to the threat of inclement weather on Sunday.  

  • Memphis Mercy Rules North Alabama to End Losing Streak

    Memphis Mercy Rules North Alabama to End Losing Streak

    Roshawn Miller/Tigerpen

    The Tigers bounced back after a tough week, defeating the University of North Alabama Lions 16-2 in seven innings. The win snaps a five-game losing streak for Memphis. 

    “This is the type of game we needed,” said coach Matt Riser. “We did it in multiple ways, and the energy in our dugout was awesome.” 

    Starting pitcher Cade Davis put together a strong outing, allowing one run via a leadoff home run by North Alabama second baseman Jackson Ferrigno. In five innings of work, Davis recorded seven strikeouts and did not allow a walk. He received his first collegiate win for the effort. 

    North Alabama cycled through six different pitchers in the contest. All but one allowed multiple runs in their stints.

    The Tigers got the bats going early, tallying seven runs in the first three innings. Daunte Stuart and Seth Cox each drove in multiple runs with extra-base hits to give Memphis control of the contest. 

    Along with the 11 hits totaled by the Memphis offense, the North Alabama pitching staff allowed 14 Tiger batters to reach base via walk or hit-by-pitch.   

    North Alabama’s defense committed two costly errors, scoring multiple runs for Memphis and putting the game out of reach. 

    “We did a really good job of putting pressure on their defense,” said Riser. “We did the little things right to create situations for the big hits.” 

    Jacob Compton and Austin Baskin each drove in multiple runs with hits late in the game to extend the lead to double figures for Memphis. 

    Jackson Lyons entered in the sixth inning, relieving Cade Davis on the mound for the Tigers. Lyons gave up one run in two innings of work and sealed the seven-inning win for Memphis. 

    The victory over North Alabama is the second of the mercy rule variety for the Tigers this season and improves their record to 8-10. Memphis will return to action tomorrow against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at FedEx Avron Fogelman Field at 6 p.m. 

  • 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+