Early deficit plagues Tigers in midweek setback

Wednesday, February 19

Conway, Ark.

4 p.m.

University of Memphis

1-3

Central Arkansas

2-2

Memphis

Central Arkansas

Feb 19, 2020 | Baseball

Box Score

CONWAY, Ark. – A big inning early was too much to overcome for Memphis as the Tigers dropped a 5-3 decision at Central Arkansas on Wednesday night at Bear Stadium.

A five-spot in the second inning by the home side built an early UCA lead. Memphis chipped away throughout the contest, but couldn't quite capture the momentum to yield a comeback.

Freshman Jaylen Wilbon posted his first multi-hit game of his career, going 2-for-4 at the dish with a run scored. Junior Ben Brooks also continued his hot start to the season with a solo homer, his second of the year, and collected two RBIs.

For the fourth time this year, Memphis claimed the first lead of the game, scoring in the first inning before Central Arkansas responded with five unearned runs in the second to claim the lead.

Memphis struck in the second at-bat of the game when Brooks connected on his second home run of the season and third of his career. Dating back to the final game of the 2019 campaign, Brooks has homered in three of his last five games.

Following the Bears' big inning, the Tigers got a run back in the fifth frame when Wilbon scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Brooks.

The Tigers offered a rally in the eighth inning to draw closer. With the bases loaded, Chris Swanberg was hit by a pitch to add another Memphis run. That would be as close as the Tigers could get, as UCA closed the ninth to set the final.

The Tigers return to Memphis for a three-game series this weekend against Dayton. First pitch from FedExPark on Friday is set for 4 p.m.