Friday, February 14
Memphis, Tenn.
2:05 P.M.
University of Memphis
vs
Southeast Missouri
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Tigers Set for Opening Day Double Header vs. SEMO
Feb 13, 2025 | Baseball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team is set to open its 2025 season with a double header vs. Southeast Missouri on Friday afternoon at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field, with first pitch for game one slated for 2:05 p.m. All three games of the series can be streamed live on ESPN+.
FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field will play host to the 49th, 50th and 51st all-time meetings between the two teams, with the Tigers leading the all-time series, 28-20. The Redhawks won the most recent matchup, 7-6, in Cape Girardeau in 2019.
The Tigers are entering year two under head coach Matt Riser after finishing 23-32 in year one. In his first season at the helm of the program, Riser led the Tigers to a win over SEC foe Ole Miss at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field - the first win over the Rebels in Memphis since 2017 and the first on campus since 2001.
The first-year skipper also led the Tigers to their first conference road sweep in over a decade (May 17-19, 2012 at Houston; C-USA) – a three-game series sweep of the Rice Owls at Reckling Park in Houston. In addition, Riser led the Tigers to a road-AAC series win at his alma mater, Tulane, who went on to win the AAC Tournament and advance to an NCAA Regional for the second-straight season.
In year one of the Riser era, the Tigers slugged 68 home runs (fifth most in program history) and walked 284 times to rank second in the AAC (third most in program history). On the mound, the Tigers saved 16 games (T-No. 5 in Memphis history), nine of which were saved by NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watchlist honoree Brayden Sanders. Sanders' nine saves were also good for fifth-most individually in a season by a Tiger and led The American.
The Tigers were aggressive on the base paths in the first year under Riser, successfully swiping 89 bags to lead The American and rank 43rd nationally. Defensively, Memphis turned 54 double plays to rank 12th in the nation.
A total of 14 Tigers return from last year's roster as Memphis welcomed 26 newcomers this fall. Newcomer OF/RHP James Smith IV was named the AAC's No. 3 2025 MLB Draft Prospect by D1Baseball.com, followed by returners RHP Seth Garner (No. 16), RHP Brayden Sanders (No. 32), RHP Kylan Stepter (No. 37) and newcomer LHP Isaac Lucas (No. 39).
In addition, returning sophomore RHP Malik Harris was named The American's No. 13 prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft while freshmen INF Carter McKay (No. 8) and INF Michael Politte (No. 23) landed on D1Baseball's Impact Freshmen list for the AAC.
Memphis will welcome in SEMO who is coming off a Regional Championship appearance a season ago after eliminating the first-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks in the Fayetteville Regional after winning the OVC Tournament for the sixth time in program history.
Three Redhawks landed on the 2025 'Top 100' lists according to D1Baseball.com in utility player Ty Stauss, infielder Brooks Kettering, and first baseman Bryce Cannon. The trio return to lead the Redhawks offense in 2025. Kettering was also named the Preseason 'Player of the Year' in the OVC by D1Baseball.
The Tigers will roll out the weekend rotation of RHP Seth Garner, LHP David Case and RHP Caden Robinson to open the season. Garner and Robinson both slot in as rotation pieces for the third-straight season.
The Redhawks will counter with RHP Brian Strange, RHP Sam Heyman and LHP Haden Dow in the series finale. Offensively, SEMO returns seven pieces to its every-day lineup from its Regional Final squad from 2024.
Season-ticket packages ($99) and single-game tickets are available at THIS LINK.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Baseball and to purchase tickets, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field will play host to the 49th, 50th and 51st all-time meetings between the two teams, with the Tigers leading the all-time series, 28-20. The Redhawks won the most recent matchup, 7-6, in Cape Girardeau in 2019.
The Tigers are entering year two under head coach Matt Riser after finishing 23-32 in year one. In his first season at the helm of the program, Riser led the Tigers to a win over SEC foe Ole Miss at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field - the first win over the Rebels in Memphis since 2017 and the first on campus since 2001.
The first-year skipper also led the Tigers to their first conference road sweep in over a decade (May 17-19, 2012 at Houston; C-USA) – a three-game series sweep of the Rice Owls at Reckling Park in Houston. In addition, Riser led the Tigers to a road-AAC series win at his alma mater, Tulane, who went on to win the AAC Tournament and advance to an NCAA Regional for the second-straight season.
In year one of the Riser era, the Tigers slugged 68 home runs (fifth most in program history) and walked 284 times to rank second in the AAC (third most in program history). On the mound, the Tigers saved 16 games (T-No. 5 in Memphis history), nine of which were saved by NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watchlist honoree Brayden Sanders. Sanders' nine saves were also good for fifth-most individually in a season by a Tiger and led The American.
The Tigers were aggressive on the base paths in the first year under Riser, successfully swiping 89 bags to lead The American and rank 43rd nationally. Defensively, Memphis turned 54 double plays to rank 12th in the nation.
A total of 14 Tigers return from last year's roster as Memphis welcomed 26 newcomers this fall. Newcomer OF/RHP James Smith IV was named the AAC's No. 3 2025 MLB Draft Prospect by D1Baseball.com, followed by returners RHP Seth Garner (No. 16), RHP Brayden Sanders (No. 32), RHP Kylan Stepter (No. 37) and newcomer LHP Isaac Lucas (No. 39).
In addition, returning sophomore RHP Malik Harris was named The American's No. 13 prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft while freshmen INF Carter McKay (No. 8) and INF Michael Politte (No. 23) landed on D1Baseball's Impact Freshmen list for the AAC.
Memphis will welcome in SEMO who is coming off a Regional Championship appearance a season ago after eliminating the first-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks in the Fayetteville Regional after winning the OVC Tournament for the sixth time in program history.
Three Redhawks landed on the 2025 'Top 100' lists according to D1Baseball.com in utility player Ty Stauss, infielder Brooks Kettering, and first baseman Bryce Cannon. The trio return to lead the Redhawks offense in 2025. Kettering was also named the Preseason 'Player of the Year' in the OVC by D1Baseball.
The Tigers will roll out the weekend rotation of RHP Seth Garner, LHP David Case and RHP Caden Robinson to open the season. Garner and Robinson both slot in as rotation pieces for the third-straight season.
The Redhawks will counter with RHP Brian Strange, RHP Sam Heyman and LHP Haden Dow in the series finale. Offensively, SEMO returns seven pieces to its every-day lineup from its Regional Final squad from 2024.
Season-ticket packages ($99) and single-game tickets are available at THIS LINK.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Baseball and to purchase tickets, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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