Tigers Split Opening-Day Double Header with SEMO

Friday, February 14

Memphis, Tenn.

2:05 P.M.

University of Memphis

1-0

Southeast Missouri

0-1

Southeast Missouri

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Feb 14, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team kicked off its season with a double-header split vs. Southeast Missouri at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field on Friday afternoon, taking game one by a score of 4-1 before falling, 7-3, in game two.

The Tigers (1-1) will aim for the series win over the Redhawks (1-1) on Monday at 2:05 p.m. in the series finale and rubber match.

"Good game one, not a great game two – but SEMO is a good, regional-caliber club," head coach Matt Riser said. "We played outstanding defense in game one and pitched really well … because we played good defense early and put ourselves in a good position to get some big swings of the bat, we have to move the baseball more on offense. Maybe some opening day jitters with our two-strike plan not being consistent, but you see the power we have and there's some strength there. If we can move the baseball as well, we'll be able to consistently score runs."

GAME ONE

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Memphis struck first when newcomer Cade Tucker connected for a solo home run – the first of the season for the Tigers – to give Memphis a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
• The Tigers used another solo shot in the bottom of the third, this time off the bat of newcomer Cy Turner, to lead off the frame and take a 2-0 lead on the Redhawks.
• Junior RHP Seth Garner got the Opening Day start and was effective, throwing up zeroes for 4.2 innings before turning it over to newcomer RHP Davis Oswalt.
• Memphis got an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth when shortstop Creek Robertson came around to score on an errant throw, extending the Tiger lead to 3-0.
• First baseman Shane Cox blasted Memphis' third solo home run of the contest to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning, pushing the lead to four.
• SEMO answered for a run in the bottom of the ninth, but RHP Seth Cox shut the Redhawks down to earn the save.

NOTABLES
• Garner got the start on the mound and went 4.2 innings, allowing no runs on seven hits, with a strikeout and a walk.
• Oswalt bridged the gap from Garner to Cox with 2.1 scoreless innings in his Tiger debut. The UL-Monroe transfer allowed two hits, one walk and struck one man out to earn the win.
• Cox earned the save – the second of his Tiger career – to seal the win.
• Memphis tallied six hits, and half of those went for solo home runs.
• Two-way newcomer James Smith IV got the start in center field and was the lone Tiger with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4.

GAME TWO

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Left-hander David Case got the start in game two and came out sharp, striking out the side in the first inning.
• SEMO struck for a pair of runs in the second inning on a fielder's choice and a Tiger error.
• Case ran into some trouble in the second frame, and Redhawk Michael Mugan capitalized by slugging a one-out grand slam to swell the lead to 6-0.
• The Redhawks tacked on an insurance run on a one-out sac-fly in the top of the eighth to make the score 7-0.
• Newcomer Chase Nixon drew a walk in the bottom of the eighth and set the table for Smith IV to step up to the plate and smash his first home run as a Tiger – a two-run shot over the bullpen in left-center field.
• Shane Cox drove in a run in the bottom of the ninth with a double down the left-field line that scored Robertson all the way from first to make it a 7-3 game, which held to be final.

NOTABLES
• Case made his first start as a Tiger and went four innings while allowing four hits and six runs. He had his strikeout stuff working though as he fanned six Redhawks while walking just one.
• Redshirt-freshman RHP Will Howell made his Tiger debut and threw a pair of scoreless innings, allowing two hits, one walk and striking out a pair.
• RHP Hayden Donahue made his Memphis debut as well, allowing one run on two hits in two innings of work.
• The newest Curtis in a lineage of Tigers – Eli Curtis – came on to pitch the ninth and racked up a pair of strikeouts. The lefty allowed just one base runner via the walk.
• Smith IV logged another multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a double and a pair of RBI.
• Shane Cox also went 2-for-4 with both hits going for two bases. On the day, he went 3-for-7 with three extra-base hits (2 2B, 1 HR).

UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field on Monday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. for the series finale and rubber match with the Redhawks.

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.