Tigers Defeat Wright State, 6-3, in Game One of Weekend Series

Friday, March 1

Memphis, Tenn.

4 P.M.

University of Memphis

6-5

Wright State

2-6

Wright State

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Tigers Defeat Wright State, 6-3, in Game One of Weekend Series

Mar 01, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team handled business at home Friday night at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field, defeating Wright State 6-3 to move above .500 for the first time this season (6-5).

Tiger starter David Warren went a career-high seven innings and allowed just a pair of runs on six hits while striking out three and walking two to earn the win and improve to 1-1 on the season.

"I'm really proud of the guys and how they came out on a Friday night," head coach Matt Riser said. "We knew their starter was good and that we'd be dealing with an aggressive offense who can swing the bat well and run the bases, so we knew we'd be in for a good one. Dave [Warren] set the tone from the get-go. I was really proud of his outing, one of the best of his career."

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Warren had his best stuff going early for the Tigers, using just six pitches for the first three outs of the game. Memphis capitalized on the momentum from its staff ace and pushed across three runs in the bottom of the first. A two-run double by Daunte Stuart put the Tigers on the board and a Jacob Compton RBI single made it a 3-0 Memphis lead.
• Aaron Smigelski added to the Tiger lead with a two-out, two-run single to left field to extend the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the third frame.
• Warren worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth unscathed and used that momentum to find a second wind as he retired the Raiders in order on just nine pitches in the sixth and sat them down in order once again in the seventh.
• Wright State tagged Warren for a solo home run to lead off the eighth inning before giving up a single to the next Raider batter. Shortstop Jake Curtis moved to the mound and got a quick fly out before allowing a two-run shot by the Raiders to trim the Tiger lead to 5-3.
• Smigelski gave Memphis a much-needed insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, going opposite field for a solo blast that pushed the Tiger lead back to three runs.
• Closer Brayden Sanders entered in the ninth and sat the Raiders down in order with a pair of strikeouts to earn his third save of the season and for the second-straight game.

NOTABLES
• Warren threw a career-high seven innings to earn his first win of the season.
• Four Tigers tallied two-hits in the win: Austin Baskin, Will Marcy, Stuart, and Smigelski.
• Marcy stole his team-leading fourth bag of the year and raised his season batting average to .310 with a pair of hits from the two spot in the order.
• Stuart drove in a pair of runs with a double and ended the day 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored while raising his season batting average to .333.
• Baskin (2-for-4) doubled and scored twice to raise his season clip to .311.
• Smigelski's home run was his second of the season. He ended the game 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run.
• Pierre Seals and Compton both tallied a hit. Compton drove in his sixth run of the season.
• Tyler Heckert walked in his lone at-bat and stole two bases.

UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field on Saturday at 2 p.m. for game two with the Raiders and a chance to clinch the series win.

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.