Memphis Drops Game at No. 2 Miss State

Wednesday, April 13

Starkville, MS

6:30 PM

University of Memphis

Mississippi State

Photo by: Michael Gardner

Apr 13, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

Tigers will host nationally ranked East Carolina this weekend

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Memphis took an early lead in the top of the second inning before No. 2 Mississippi State went on to score the next 11 runs to win 11-1 Wednesday night at Dudy Noble Field.

The Tigers (12-21) will face another ranked opponent this weekend, welcoming East Carolina to FedExPark for a three-game weekend series that gets underway Friday at 6:30 p.m.

James Muse made his fifth start on the mound for Memphis and pitched 2 1/3 innings allowing four runs on five hits and three walks. A group of six relievers combined to work the final 5 2/3 of the game.

First baseman Jacob Elliott had his third straight multiple-hit game going 3-for-3 and drove in the Tigers' only run of the game. Elliott also had three hits in the series finale at USF last weekend as well against Eastern Illinois in March.

Memphis drew first blood after Chris Carrier started the second inning with a double to left field. He scored the first run of the game on a single up the middle by Elliott.

Mississippi State quickly went to the bullpen, calling on Jacob Billingsley with one out in the second inning. Starting pitcher Keegan James tossed 1 1/3 innings and allowed the lone Tiger run on two hits.

Billingsley walked the first batter he faced, Damo DeMatteo, and the Bulldogs went right back to the bullpen and brought Kale Breaux into the game. Breaux struck out Jake Overbey to end the second inning, stranding Elliott at third base.

Mississippi State quickly answered, taking the lead on a two-run home run to left field by Brent Rooker.

The Bulldogs were back at it in the third inning, loading the bases with one out after a single, a double and a walk.

A two-run double by Reid Humphreys made the score 4-1 and ended James Muse's day on the mound with one out in the third inning.

Alex Hicks came on in relief and got a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat in the third inning. The freshman right-hander followed that up with a perfect fourth inning that included two more strikeouts. Hicks came right back and got the first two outs of the fifth before allowing a solo homer to left. He worked 2 1/3 innings allowing just two hits with four strikeouts.

The Tigers turned to Hunter Smith to get the final out of the fifth but the freshman lefty hit two batters and allowed a two-run single to left field that made the Mississippi State lead 7-1.

Colton Neel worked a scoreless sixth inning in relief and retired a batter in the seventh but issued two walks. Trey McNickle was the next man up out of the bullpen and the senior allowed a double and a sacrifice fly to plate two more Bulldog runs.

Memphis next went to Drew Crosby who was able to get a strikeout to end the seventh inning.

Alex Smith tossed the eighth and retired the first two batters of the inning before allowing a single and a two-run homer.