The Tigerpen

Tag: Memphis Baseball

  • Jake Curtis Shines Light on the Leadership in Memphis Tigers Baseball Locker Room

    Jake Curtis Shines Light on the Leadership in Memphis Tigers Baseball Locker Room

    Memphis Tigers RHP/INF Jake Curtis spoke about the leaders in the Tigers locker room. Curtis is a Memphis legacy, as his father and uncle suited up for the Tigers back in their colligate days.

    Curtis started his college career at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois. While in Springfield, he boasted a .184 batting average alongside a 2.86 ERA. Since coming to Memphis, he is now coming off a season where he had a .266 average at the plate and a 2.60 ERA on the mound.

    He has already had a few accolades under his belt throughout his college career including: Rawlings Juco All-American 2B, MWAC Player of the year, and Region 24 player of the year.

    This is Cutris’ second season with the Tigers. His younger brother is expected to join the team next season. He has had a short stint with Memphis so far, but he already been very vocal on his leadership roles within the program.

    During his tenure, Curtis has already had multiple head coaches and seen some roster shakeups. He is very optimistic about this season’s culture behind the scenes.

    “It means a lot to have a coach that always has our back and we have felt that since day one,” Curtis said. “It’s good to see that we are headed in the right direction.”

    Baseball can be a very individualist sport, but a team must have a strong sense of leadership behind the scenes. 

    Curtis has been a leader during his time with the Tigers. He said that the entire senior class has adopted a leadership role on the team and is trying to teach the younger guys.

    “It is big to have a leader,” Curtis said. “As for this team, we don’t have an individual leader, we have multiple. Really it is the senior class that has been here, people that have been here even longer than me. They’ve been around it and we understand what skip wants from us, and that makes it a lot easier.”

    He added that accountability is key to his role as a leader on the team because everyone has to feel responsible for their actions.

    “Obviously, seniors are going to make mistakes too, so that’s why we got a lot of leaders,” Curtis said. “The good thing about this team is that we’ll hold each other accountable.”

    This is also Coach Matt Riser’s first season with the Tigers and his seniors have had as many as three head coaches during their time at Memphis.

    “They have shown that even if with their third head coach and the third system, they have been very selfless,” Riser said. “Tell me what to do and tell me where to go and I will do that to the best of my abilities.”

    Even though it is only the beginning of his second season with the university, Curtis has adapted to his leadership well and takes pride in it. He and the rest of the senior class have gained these roles and are embracing them.

    “I just want to make a difference and put this program in the direction that we want and get us back on the winning page,” Curtis said.

  • Memphis Drops Series Finale to Wright State

    Memphis Drops Series Finale to Wright State

    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+.

  • Tigers Use Late Game Heroics in Walk-off Win

    Tigers Use Late Game Heroics in Walk-off Win

    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 Takes Game One vs Wright State

    Memphis Takes Game One vs Wright State

    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.

  • Tigers Take Game Two from Skyhawks, Even Season Record 

    Tigers Take Game Two from Skyhawks, Even Season Record 

    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 at bat.
    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.

  • Tigers Drop Game One Against UT-Martin

    Tigers Drop Game One Against UT-Martin

    Photo by Ronald Todd

    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.

  • Memphis Wins Rubber Match Behind a High Scoring Offense

    Memphis Wins Rubber Match Behind a High Scoring Offense

    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.

  • 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.

  • Memphis Drops First Game in Series Against Bowling Green

    Memphis Drops First Game in Series Against Bowling Green

    “It was an embarrassing outing to be honest with you”

    Matt Riser

    The Tigers struggled Friday in their opening game against Bowling Green, dropping a 9-1 game behind great pitching and hitting from Bowling Green’s DJ Newman and other hot bats for the Falcons.

    The game was tied 0-0 through three innings until a single by Garrett Wright drove in a run for the Falcons. That was followed up by a Newman double that plated two more runners, making a 3-0 lead in the fourth.

    David Warren who got the start for the Tigers was pulled after 4 and 2/3 innings of work. After he was pulled, the Falcons loaded the bags and scored one run on a walk making it 4-0 through five innings.

    In the seventh inning, Leighton Barnjoff hit a two-run home run to add more cushion to the Falcons lead, moving it to 6-0. Also in the seventh inning, Newman hit double digit strike outs for the first time in his career.

    With Malik Harris on the mound in the eighth, he gave up another run after a dropped fly ball in center field allowed a Falcon runner to come in from third. Landon Willeman came into pitch for the Falcons, came in for a hot Newman who finished with 11 strikeouts, a career high.

    Despite not contributing on the mound anymore, Newman wasn’t done. He hit a two-run home run off of Brandon Chorzelewski in the top of the ninth to give the Falcons a 9-0 lead.

    The Tigers were able to drive in their only run of the game as Seth Cox who was pinch hitting for Aaron Smigelski, hit a line drive into left field that past the diving glove of Gavin Gunan. That hit allowed Aaron Davis to score from second giving us the final score of 9-1.

    With the loss, the Tigers move to 2-4 on the season. They will look to even the series against the Falcons tomorrow at 2 p.m.

  • 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.