Tigers drop narrow decision at Mississippi State

Wednesday, May 8

Starkville, Miss.

6:30 p.m.

University of Memphis

24-22

Mississippi State

39-10

Memphis

Mississippi State

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

May 08, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Early offense and a late rally wasn't enough to capture a ranked win, as Memphis fell 10-9 at No. 5 Mississippi State Wednesday night at Dudy Noble Field.

Memphis plated seven runs in the opening frame to build an early advantage. Mississippi State chipped away throughout the game, eventually taking an 8-7 lead in the sixth.

Memphis responded right back with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to reclaim the lead, but the Bulldogs found one more answer as two runs in the bottom of the eighth set the final score.

Offensively, Cale Hennemann enjoyed a 2-for-4 night and drove in a pair of runs. Kyle Ouellette, Payton Marshall, Alec Trela and Hennemann, Memphis' 5-8 hitters in the lineup, each tallied two RBI.

Four hits and four walks helped spark the seven-run first inning for the Tigers. A pair of walks led off the frame, and a Hunter Goodman single to center drove in the game's first run. Ouellette singled between a pair of walks to increase the lead, and a double by Trela followed with a single from Hennemann built the 7-0 edge.

Mississippi State answered with one in the first and added three in the second inning. Three more runs in the fifth inning and a run in the sixth gave Mississippi State its first lead of the day.

Two more walks helped spark the Tigers' next rally. Colton Neel and Nick Vaage drew free bases. A double steal moved them into scoring position before a 2-RBI single by Marshall reclaimed the Memphis lead.

The Tigers return to FedExPark this weekend for their home series finale against Cincinnati. The three-set-opener against the Bearcats is set for Friday at 6 p.m.