Tigers Swept by No. 12 Missouri State

Sunday, March 13

FedExPark

12:00 p.m.

University of Memphis

5-9

Missouri State

11-2

Missouri State

Memphis

Photo by: Michael Gardner

Mar 13, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Bears win 7-4 and 8-7 in Sunday doubleheader

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis came up short in all three games against No. 12 Missouri State, losing by three runs or less in each game. The Tigers and Bears played a doubleheader Sunday to finish the series and MSU came out on top, 7-4, and 8-7, in the two games.

Missouri State started the first game with back-to-back singles but starting pitcher Connor Alexander was able to limit the damage and allowed just one run on a sacrifice fly.

Memphis took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third when right fielder Chris Carrier ripped a double down the leftfield line.

The Bears were able to tie the game up in the top of the sixth on a pair of singles and an error.

The Tigers answered right back in the bottom of the sixth, doing all of the damage with two outs in the inning. Carrier was hit by a pitch to get things started before second baseman Brandon Grudzielanek worked a walk to put two on base.

First baseman Jacob Elliott followed by ripping a double to deep right field to score both runs and give Memphis a 4-2 lead.

Memphis turned to reliever Drew Crosby to start the eighth inning and the Bears greeted him with a single and a game-tying two-run home run. The Bears then grabbed the lead in the ninth with a three-run inning.

Alexander had another solid outing and allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits in seven innings pitched.

The series finale started poorly for the Tigers as Missouri State scored five unearned runs in the top of the first after a fly ball was dropped in center field that extended the inning. Starting pitcher Matt Ferguson would have been out of the inning with using just eight pitches before the error was followed by four singles and a walk.

Shortstop Jake Overbey cut into the deficit with a two-run single in the bottom of the second inning. Second baseman Brandon Grudzielanek and first baseman Trent Turner both singled ahead of Overbey.

The Bears added to their lead on a solo home run by left fielder Spencer Johnson in the top of the fourth.

Memphis got a run back in the bottom half of the fourth but couldn't muster more than one additional run after having runners on the corners with nobody out.

Nolan Blackwood entered to pitch the eighth inning and was greeted by back-to-back singles to put two runners on base. A double by Johnson drove in both runs and made the MSU lead 8-4.

Memphis scored three runs to cut the Missouri State lead to just one run going to the ninth inning but it wouldn't be enough as the Bears' All-American closer, Bryan Young, slammed the door and recorded his third save of the weekend.

Ferguson battled in the game and logged six innings allowing just one earned run on eight hits.

The Tigers' will continue their home stand as they host Arkansas-Pine Bluff Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. before welcoming Eastern Illinois for a three-game weekend series.