Riser & Tigers Get First Win at Jacksonville State to Even Series

Saturday, February 17

Jacksonville, Ala.

2 P.M.

University of Memphis

1-1

Jacksonville State

1-1

Memphis

Jacksonville State

Photo by: Brock Busick

Riser & Tigers Get First Win at Jacksonville State to Even Series

Feb 17, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team evened the series at Jacksonville State on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Gamecocks, 7-4, as head coach Matt Riser earned his first win as the skipper for the Tigers at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.

"I was proud of how the guys bounced back after a tough game last night, they came out with the right energy from the get-go," head coach Matt Riser said. "We had some big plays in some big moments and obviously this time we finished it."

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Austin Baskin got the scoring started for the Tigers in the top of the first with a double to left-center field that scored big first baseman Jacob Compton all the way from first.
• A bases-loaded hit batsmen by Tiger starter Luke Ellis gave JSU its first run of the day in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 1-1.
• Compton launched a moon shot to right field that cleared the fence for a solo home run in the top of the third inning to put Memphis back in front, 2-1.
• The Gamecocks responded to tie it back at 2-2 on solo home run off the bat of Derrick Jackson in the bottom of the third.
• The Tigers jumped back in front with a two-run fourth inning. Pierre Seals tripled home Daunte Stuart all the way from first base and Alex Fernandes doubled to drive in Seals.
• A no-doubt, two-run shot by Tiger left fielder Aaron Smigelski extended Memphis' lead to four runs, and Stuart followed that up with a laser to dead-center field for a solo home run as the Tigers went back-to-back.
• JSU's Bear Madliak notched RBI singles in the bottom of the fifth and the bottom of the seventh, and those would be the final two runs of the day for the Gamecocks as Memphis won 7-4 and evened the series.

NOTABLES
• Ellis went four innings in his start, allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out three and walking three.
• Baskin ended the day 2-for-3 with a pair of walks. He drove in a run with an RBI double in the first inning and scored a run.
• JT Durham got the win after throwing three innings in relief of Ellis. He walked four but struck out three while allowing three hits and two earned runs.
• Seth Cox started at designated hitter and moved to the mound to make his pitching debut for Memphis in the eighth inning. He walked the first batter he faced, but responded with a pair of punch outs and allowed no hits in his lone inning of work.
• Brayden Sanders came on in the ninth and notched his first save as a Tiger. He hit a batter and walked a man but got the last batter he faced looking to seal the win.
• Stuart ended the game 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a pair of runs and a walk. His home run was scored at 104-MPH off the bat and went 419 feet.
• Seals went 2-for-4 with a triple and a walk.
• Riser earned his first win as head coach of the Tigers, and the 321^st of his career.

UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium tomorrow afternoon for the series finale and rubber-match of the series at 1 p.m. Sophomore RHP Caden Robinson is scheduled to make his season debut on the mound.

How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Baseball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.