Tigers Clinch Series at Rice with 5-4 Win

Saturday, April 6

Houston, Texas

2 P.M.

University of Memphis

16-17, 0

Rice

9-22, 0

Memphis

RICE

Photo by: Brock Busick

Apr 06, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score

HOUSTON, Texas – The University of Memphis baseball team took game two of a three-game American Athletic Conference series at Rice on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Owls 5-4 at Reckling Park to clinch the series win.

The Tigers improved to 16-17 overall (4-4 AAC) with the win as the Owls dropped to 9-22 overall (1-7 AAC).

"The last couple of days have been really good. Gritty, gritty wins," head coach Matt Riser said. "Not the prettiest offensively, but we found a way to manufacture enough runs. We've made some big plays and some big pitches in some big moments this weekend. I'm proud of the club."

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Rice struck first with three first-inning runs – all coming with two outs. An RBI single by Nathan Becker plated the first run, a bunt single scored the second and another RBI single to left field drove in the third run.
• The Tigers responded with three runs of their own in the top of the second inning to tie the game at 3-3. Riley Davis drove in Pierre Seals to put Memphis on the board before a two-out, two-run double by Jake Curtis tied the game.
• Rice's Treyton Rank gave the Owls the lead back briefly in the bottom of the second with another two-out RBI to make the score 4-3, Owls.
• In the top of the fifth, Daunte Stuart grounded into a double play with the bases loaded but Will Marcy came in to score and tied the game at four runs apiece. The very next at-bat, Curtis came in to score from third on a wild pitch to give Memphis a 5-4 lead.
• Right-handed starter Seth Garner pitched the first five innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, striking out four and walking just one. Lefty Luke Ellis made his first relief appearance of the season and was dominant, holding Rice at bay for the final four innings to give the Tigers the 5-4 win and clinch the series.

NOTABLES
• Ellis struck out six Owls in his four-shutout innings of work while allowing just a pair of hits to earn his first-career save. Garner earned the win to move to 1-0 on the season.
• The Tigers were out-hit 11-4 by the Owls but took advantage of eight walks and three hit-by-pitches.
• Curtis went 2-for-4 from the two-spot in the Tiger lineup, doubling and driving in a pair of runs, also scoring once.
• Shane Cox doubled and scored a run, ending the day 1-for-2 with a pair of walks.
• Riley Davis finished the game 0-for-3 but drove in a run and scored once himself.
• Austin Baskin recorded a hit and a walk in the win. He also made a highlight reel catch reaching over the railing of the Tigers dugout for a Sportscenter-worthy play.

UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back at Reckling Park tomorrow at 1 p.m. with a chance to sweep the series.

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.