Memphis splits doubleheader with Murray State

Sunday, March 28

Memphis, Tenn.

1 p.m.

University of Memphis

10-11

Murray State

11-11

MURRAY ST.

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Mar 28, 2021 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After rain postponed Saturday's matchup between the Memphis Tigers and Murray State Racers, the teams split Sunday's doubleheader, with a 6-1 Tigers win that opened the day and a 4-2 Racers win in the back half of the twin-bill that secured the series for the visitors.

In the first of two seven-inning affairs, the Racers quickly jumped on Memphis starter Chris Durham (W, 2-1), though the southpaw shut down Murray State (12-11) over the rest of his six-inning start. Jordan Cozart hit a two-out home run in the first, but Durham settled in and allowed just three more runners to reach scoring position over the remainder of his outing.

The Tigers (10-12) tied game one with a run in the second inning, as Alec Trela led off the frame with a solo home run off of Jack Wellinger (L, 2-2). The score remained 1-1 until the bottom of the fifth inning, as the Tigers posted a crooked number in both the fifth and sixth frames.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Austin Baskin gave the Tigers the lead with a pinch-hit, two-run single. In the sixth, Jordyn Naranjo issued a leadoff walk to Ben Brooks, who scored one batter later on a double from Hunter Goodman. Ryan Fender entered out of the Racers' bullpen and struck out the next two Tigers, but a single from Ian Bibiloni and a pair of wild pitches made it a three-run inning and gave the Tigers the 6-1 lead, the eventual final. After six frames from Durham, Bailey Wimberley worked around a single and a walk in a scoreless seventh, as he closed out Memphis' 6-1 win.

The back half of the doubleheader started much like the first, with a solo home run from Cozart in the top of the first inning. Cozart's second home run of the day, his eighth of the season, this time off of Landon Kelly (L, 2-2), gave the Racers an early 1-0 lead.

Memphis went scoreless in the first against Jake Jones (W, 4-0), but took the lead with a two-run second inning. Both Trela and Taylor Howell reached on errors by Bryson Bloomer, while a single from Baskin loaded the bases with no outs. Bibiloni tied the game with an RBI groundout, while Zach Wilson gave the Tigers the lead with a sacrifice fly. Wilson's RBI made it 2-1 Memphis, though the Tigers didn't crack the scoreboard again. Jones allowed only one hit and two unearned runs over four innings.

Kelly pitched into the fourth for the Tigers but couldn't get out of the inning. Bloomer led off with a double before Kelly retired two straight. Jacob Pennington drew a walk and Drew Vogel was hit by a pitch, which loaded the bases. A misplay by Trela on a ground ball off the bat of Jake Slunder plated two runs and put Murray State ahead for good. Jackson Cothren relieved Kelly but hit the first man that he faced and walked the next with the bases loaded, which forced in Murray State's sixth and final run. The Racers led 4-2 after 3.5 innings, the eventual final. Cade Vernon (SV, 1) pitched three-shutout innings out of the Racers' bullpen to earn Murray State the doubleheader split and the series victory.

With non-conference play in the rearview mirror, the Tigers will open up AAC action on the road Thursday at 6 p.m. in New Orleans against Tulane. The teams will play a doubleheader Friday at 2 p.m. and a single game at 3 p.m. on Saturday. It will be consecutive weekend AAC road trips for the Tigers, who won't play again at home until a four-game series vs. Cincinnati, April 16-18.