Memphis Drops Game at MTSU

Tuesday, March 8

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

6:00 PM

University of Memphis

5-4

Middle Tennessee

7-5

Memphis

Middle Tennessee

Photo by: Brent Beerends

Mar 08, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

Jake Little homered twice in loss

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Despite a two home run game by right fielder Jake Little, Memphis lost 8-2 to Middle Tennessee Tuesday at Reese Smith Jr. Field. The two teams will play again Wednesday at the Ballpark at Jackson at 6 p.m.

Little homered in the fourth inning to tie the game 1-1 and then hit his second out in the eighth inning.

Middle Tennessee grabbed the lead on the first pitch of the bottom of the second inning on a solo home run by designated hitter Blake Benefield. Memphis starter James Muse rebounded nicely though and got out of the inning without any more damage.

The Blue Raiders looked like they would add to their lead after starting the third inning with an infield single, a double, and an error to load the bases with nobody out.

Muse was able to get back-to-back strikeouts and a pop up to right field to get out of the jam without allowing a run in the inning.

Right fielder Jake Little tied the game up with one big swing of the bat in the top of the fourth. The home run was his second of the season and 11^th of his career.

Grudzielanek came close to giving Memphis the lead but he had a ball caught against the wall in deep center field.

MTSU retook the lead on a pair of errors at third base and back-to-back wild pitches in the fourth inning. The Blue Raiders had just one hit in the inning but were able to score twice and make the lead 3-1.

The Tigers were able to get huge inning-ending double plays in the fourth and fifth innings to get out of jams.

Trey McNickle entered the game in the sixth and Middle Tennessee was able to add a run to its lead. Following back-to-back singles a sacrifice fly drove in the run.s

With one out in the seventh, Memphis sent three straight pinch-hitters to the plate. Andy Bowman lined a double to right center and advanced to third on a ground out but the Tigers couldn't get him in.

Ryan Garner came in to pitch in the seventh and hit the first two batters he faced. After a sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third the Tigers then turned to Bryan Cruse out of the bullpen. Things got away from Memphis a bit at that point, as a fielder's choice, a double and a wild pitch put the game out of reach.

Trevor Sutton pitched a perfect eighth inning for his first outing of the season.