The Tigerpen

Tag: Memphis Baseball

  • 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+

  • Riser Memphis Baseball Era Begins with Road Series at Jacksonville State

    Riser Memphis Baseball Era Begins with Road Series at Jacksonville State

    The University of Memphis baseball team gears up to play its first game Friday with new coach Matt Riser at the helm.

    Riser coached ten years in the Sun Belt Conference with Southeastern Louisiana University where he coached a total of 524 games with a 320-224 record. He also helped SELU get their first large NCAA tournament bid in 2016.

    Riser is the 18th skipper for Memphis Tigers’ baseball.  

    When Riser spoke during his presser on media day, he was very straightforward with what he expected out of his players. He said he wants a locker room that is well connected. He then proceeded to say that if a player does not follow the expectations he has set, there will be consequences. 

    “If we bring guys that are coming here just for the draft or just to get on some type of prospect list or think they can play here because this program hasn’t been very good, they will get a rude awakening,” Riser said. 

    The Tiger’s first series will be at Jacksonville State University at beginning at 3 p.m. Friday. It will be live on ESPN+.