Four home runs not enough as Tigers fall to Wichita State

Friday, May 21

Wichita, Kan.

6 p.m.

University of Memphis

16-37, 6-25

Wichita State

30-20, 18-12

Memphis

Wichita State

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Four home runs not enough as Tigers fall to Wichita State

May 21, 2021 | Baseball

Box Score

WICHITA, Kan. – Even with four home runs, the Memphis Tigers couldn't earn their first win of the series, as they fell 9-5 to the Wichita State Shockers. Ian Bibiloni homered in both the first and third frames, while Chris Swanberg and Taylor Howell hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning, but the Tigers had just two other hits in the loss.

Just nine pitches into Friday's matchup, Memphis (16-37, 6-25) led 1-0 on Bibiloni's third home run of the season. Two innings later, the Memphis left fielder made it 3-0 with his second home run of the game. Bibiloni's home runs were the only blemishes on Preston Snavely's (W, 4-6) card, as the Shockers' starter struck out seven and allowed just three hits over five frames.

After consecutive scoreless innings to open the game, Landon Kelly (ND) ran into trouble in the third and the Tigers were fortunate to still maintain the lead. With men on first and second with one out, Paxton Wallace appeared to hit a game-tying three-run home run, but just beyond first base, Wallace passed Ross Cadena and was thus ruled out on the play. The non-home run went in as a two-run single for Wallace, as the Tigers led 3-2 after three innings. Kelly allowed two runs on three hits over four frames.

Ahead at the midpoint of the game for the second time in the series, the Tigers once again lost the lead in the home half of the fifth. Jackson Cothren (L, 1-8) relieved Kelly to start the inning and retired just one of the five batters that he faced. Cardena tied the game with an RBI single, Wallace gave the Shockers the 4-3 lead with an RBI groundout, while Hunter Gibson made it a four-run inning with a two-run home run. Wichita State (30-20, 18-12) led 6-3 after five innings and never relinquished the lead.

Snavely departed for Creighton Hansen to begin the sixth inning and the Wichita State reliever issued a leadoff walk to Alec Trela. Hansen appeared as though he might get out of the inning unscathed, as Austin Baskin grounded into a double play. With the bases empty and one out, Swanberg homered, his second of the season, while Howell followed with his sixth home run of the year. The back-to-back home runs pulled Memphis within one, as the Tigers trailed 6-5 after 5.5 frames.

The Shockers gave the bullpen some breathing room in the home half of the sixth inning, as Jack Sigrist notched an RBI single off of Reed Harding, while three batters later, Corrigan Bartlett plated a pair with a single off of Logan Walters. Bartlett's two-run single provided the final runs of the night, as Tommy Barnhouse and Aaron Haase didn't allow a Memphis run over the final three innings. With the 9-5 win, Wichita State made it three straight victories over the Tigers and set up a sweep opportunity in the regular season finale Saturday.

In the final game of the regular season, Blake Wimberley (2-8, 6.71) is set to pitch for the Tigers. Wimberley has allowed at least five runs in four of his past five outings and has pitched through five frames just once over that span. For the Shockers, Gareth Stroh (0-0, 9.00) is slated to take the mound. The senior has made just four appearances this season, none longer than four innings, and none where he allowed fewer than two runs. First pitch of the regular season finale is set for 12 p.m. at Eck Stadium.