Howell homers twice in 9-5 loss to Murray State

Friday, March 26

Memphis, Tenn.

6 p.m.

University of Memphis

9-11

Murray State

11-10

MURRAY ST.

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Mar 26, 2021 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Despite two home runs from birthday boy Taylor Howell, the Memphis Tigers fell 9-5 to the Murray State Racers in the series opener at FedExPark. The Tigers committed three errors that led to seven unearned runs against the combination of Blake Wimberley (L, 1-3) and Walker Brockhouse. Howell hit a solo home run in the fourth and did so again in the fifth, as he doubled his season home run total to four.

In his first start since his complete-game shutout last Friday, Wimberley didn't get through the first inning scoreless. Jake Slunder led off the game for Murray State (11-10) with a single, while Ryan Perkins followed with a two-run home run. Two batters into Wimberley's night, Memphis (9-11) trailed 2-0.

The Tigers tied the game with two runs in the third against Shane Burns (ND). A single from Ben Brooks loaded the bases for Hunter Goodman, and the All-American made it 2-2 with a two-run single. Goodman finished the night with two hits, one of only two Memphis starters with multiple hits.

Memphis took the lead against Burns in the fourth inning, as Howell led off the frame with a go-ahead home run. The next three Tigers reached base, as Austin Baskin and Evan Bell each drew a walk, while Zach Wilson loaded the bases with a single. Braden Webb followed with a sacrifice fly that plated Baskin, as the Tigers led 4-2 after four innings. Burns allowed four runs, all earned, on five hits over 3.1 innings.

Wimberley saw the Racers bat around and score five times in the next half inning. Murray State sent nine men to the plate in the fifth against the duo of Wimberley and Brockhouse, as two errors in the inning led to five unearned runs. Bryson Bloomer gave the Racers the lead with a two-run single, which knocked the Memphis starter out of the game. Brockhouse inherited two baserunners, both of which scored on a two-run double from Trey Woosley. Murray State led 7-4 halfway through Friday's matchup.

Howell's one-out home run off of Jacob Pennington (W, 2-1) in the fifth inning proved to be the final run of the night for the Tigers. Pennington allowed just one more hit over 4.1 innings. The Racers extended the lead with two runs, both unearned, against Brockhouse in the sixth, the final runs of the night. Memphis threatened against Alec Whaley in the ninth and brought the tying run to the plate with two outs, but Whaley struck out pinch-hitter Nick Jones to secure the 9-5 win.

The Tigers will make the quick turnaround and aim to level the series with the Racers on Saturday. Chris Durham (1-1, 3.78) is scheduled to start for the Memphis, while Jack Wenninger (2-1, 2.33) is slated to take the mound for Murray State. First pitch of the middle game of the set is set for 12 p.m. at FedExPark.