University of Memphis Athletics
Sunday, February 18
Jacksonville, Ala.
1 P.M.
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Jacksonville State
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Memphis
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Jacksonville State
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Photo by: Brock Busick
Tigers Drop Series Finale at Jacksonville State in Extras
Feb 18, 2024 | Baseball
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The University of Memphis baseball team dropped game three of its opening-weekend series at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium on Sunday afternoon as Jacksonville State's Caleb Johnson delivered a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to complete a seven-run comeback and steal the series from the Tigers.
"The right intent is there but we have to learn how to finish, that's the evident and obvious thing," head coach Matt Riser said. "They threw the big punch and credit to them for that, but we have to find a way to finish … We have to start expecting to win instead of trying to hold on to win."
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Jax State (2-1) struck first in the third inning when Derrick Jackson hit his second home run of the series, this one a two-run job to deep left field to give the Gamecocks a 2-0 lead early.
• A two-out, two-strike RBI single by Brennan DuBose got Memphis (1-2) on the board in the top of the fourth inning. The next batter, Alex Fernandes, connected for his first home run as a Tiger – a three-run shot to give Memphis a 4-2 lead.
• In the fifth inning, first baseman Jacob Compton grinded out an at-bat, fouling off four-consecutive pitches before depositing a solo shot over the right-field wall for his second long ball of the series. Designated hitter Riley Davis notched his first RBI as a Tiger later in the inning with an RBI single that scored Austin Baskin to make it a score of 6-2, Memphis.
• Pierre Seals scored the first of three runs for the Tigers in the top of the eighth inning when JSU pitcher Austin Gast was called for a balk forcing Seales home from third. Jake Curtis walked and then Compton was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Back-to-back bases-loaded walks by Baskin and Aaron Smigelski forced in the second and third runs of the frame to swell Memphis' lead to 9-2.
• Things started to go sideways for the Tigers in the bottom of the eighth when Hudson Walburn hit a three-run home run to cut the Memphis advantage to four runs. Later in the inning, Jackson doubled and drove in his third and fourth runs of the contest with two away in the inning. Jackson Lyons came on and struck out Bear Madliak – the only batter he faced – to take the Tigers to the ninth with a 9-7 lead.
• In the bottom of the ninth, JSU's Caleb Johnson slapped a two-out, two-run double to center field to tie the game at 9-9 and force extra-innings for the second time in the three-game series.
• It was Johnson again coming up as the hero for the Gamecocks in extras. With a full count and the bases loaded with two down in the bottom of the 10th, Johnson blasted a walk-off grand slam to steal the game and the series from the Tigers.
NOTABLES
• Starting pitcher Caden Robinson was effective in his five innings of work, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out five and walking one.
• Fernandes went 3-for-5 from the nine spot in the Tiger lineup. He homered, doubled, drove in three runs and scored once.
• Compton ended the day 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and a run scored.
• Baskin, Smigelski, Seals, Davis, DuBose and Daunte Stuart all tallied a hit in the game.
• Baskin, Smigelski, Davis and DuBose all drove in a run. DuBose scored twice.
UP NEXT
• The Tigers hit the road again on Tuesday afternoon and head to Little Rock, Arkansas, for a mid-week matchup with the Trojans. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. with coverage available on ESPN+.
"The right intent is there but we have to learn how to finish, that's the evident and obvious thing," head coach Matt Riser said. "They threw the big punch and credit to them for that, but we have to find a way to finish … We have to start expecting to win instead of trying to hold on to win."
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Jax State (2-1) struck first in the third inning when Derrick Jackson hit his second home run of the series, this one a two-run job to deep left field to give the Gamecocks a 2-0 lead early.
• A two-out, two-strike RBI single by Brennan DuBose got Memphis (1-2) on the board in the top of the fourth inning. The next batter, Alex Fernandes, connected for his first home run as a Tiger – a three-run shot to give Memphis a 4-2 lead.
• In the fifth inning, first baseman Jacob Compton grinded out an at-bat, fouling off four-consecutive pitches before depositing a solo shot over the right-field wall for his second long ball of the series. Designated hitter Riley Davis notched his first RBI as a Tiger later in the inning with an RBI single that scored Austin Baskin to make it a score of 6-2, Memphis.
• Pierre Seals scored the first of three runs for the Tigers in the top of the eighth inning when JSU pitcher Austin Gast was called for a balk forcing Seales home from third. Jake Curtis walked and then Compton was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Back-to-back bases-loaded walks by Baskin and Aaron Smigelski forced in the second and third runs of the frame to swell Memphis' lead to 9-2.
• Things started to go sideways for the Tigers in the bottom of the eighth when Hudson Walburn hit a three-run home run to cut the Memphis advantage to four runs. Later in the inning, Jackson doubled and drove in his third and fourth runs of the contest with two away in the inning. Jackson Lyons came on and struck out Bear Madliak – the only batter he faced – to take the Tigers to the ninth with a 9-7 lead.
• In the bottom of the ninth, JSU's Caleb Johnson slapped a two-out, two-run double to center field to tie the game at 9-9 and force extra-innings for the second time in the three-game series.
• It was Johnson again coming up as the hero for the Gamecocks in extras. With a full count and the bases loaded with two down in the bottom of the 10th, Johnson blasted a walk-off grand slam to steal the game and the series from the Tigers.
NOTABLES
• Starting pitcher Caden Robinson was effective in his five innings of work, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out five and walking one.
• Fernandes went 3-for-5 from the nine spot in the Tiger lineup. He homered, doubled, drove in three runs and scored once.
• Compton ended the day 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and a run scored.
• Baskin, Smigelski, Seals, Davis, DuBose and Daunte Stuart all tallied a hit in the game.
• Baskin, Smigelski, Davis and DuBose all drove in a run. DuBose scored twice.
UP NEXT
• The Tigers hit the road again on Tuesday afternoon and head to Little Rock, Arkansas, for a mid-week matchup with the Trojans. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. with coverage available on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BAKER, Will (1-0)
L: Chorzelewski, Brandon (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Compton, Jacob 1 ; Fernandes, Alex 1
HR: Compton, Jacob 1 ; Fernandes, Alex 1
RBI: Compton, Jacob 1 ; Baskin, Austin 1 ; Smigelski, Aaron 1 ; Davis, Riley 1 ; DuBose, Brennan 1 ; Fernandes, Alex 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Curtis, Jake 1 ; Compton, Jacob 1 ; Baskin, Austin 1 ; Smigelski, Aaron 1 ; Stuart, Daunte 1 ; Seals, Pierre 1 ; DuBose, Brennan 2 ; Fernandes, Alex 1
SB: DuBose, Brennan 1
CS: Curtis, Jake 1
HBP: Compton, Jacob 1 ; Smigelski, Aaron 1
Batting:
2B: JOHNSON, Caleb 1 ; JACKSON, Derrick 1 ; THOMAS, Kensky 1
HR: JOHNSON, Caleb 1 ; JACKSON, Derrick 1 ; WALBURN, Hudson 1
RBI: JOHNSON, Caleb 5 ; JACKSON, Derrick 4 ; WALBURN, Hudson 3
Base Running:
RUNS: JOHNSON, Caleb 1 ; NORTON, Brennen 1 ; YOUNG, Gabe 2 ; JACKSON, Derrick 1 ; THOMAS, Kensky 2 ; SILAS, Sam 3 ; WALBURN, Hudson 3
SB: COLLINS, Drew 1
HBP: YOUNG, Gabe 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
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1B/OF
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RHP/INF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballOF/INF
/ Baseball
INF
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