Tigers Welcome Beacons for Weekend Series

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team is set to kick off a three-game series with Valparaiso at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field, with first pitch for game one slated for 2:05 p.m. on Friday afternoon. Saturday's game is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. with the Sunday finale slated for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch. All three games can be streamed live on ESPN+.

FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field will play host to the third-ever series between the two teams, with the Tigers leading the all-time series, 5-1. The Tigers swept the Beacons in Memphis in 2009 and took two-of-three in the Bluff City in 2022.

Memphis shut out Southeast Missouri, 2-0, on Monday afternoon to clinch an opening weekend series win over the defending regional-finalist Redhawks. Caden Robinson, Luke Ellis combined for eight scoreless innings of three-hit baseball and Brayden Sanders slammed the door for the save.

Shane Cox stood out offensively for the Tigers in the series win, batting .500 with four extra-base hits (1 HR). James Smith IV is hitting .364 through the season's first week with a home run, a double and a pair of RBI. Newcomers Cade Tucker and Cy Turner each slugged solo home runs in their first at-bats as Tigers.

After ranking 12^th nationally with 54 double plays turned a season ago, the Tigers turned six during the opening weekend series vs. SEMO and share the national lead through a week of play.

A 4-1 win and a 2-0 shutout of the Redhawks helped the Memphis pitching staff combine for a 2.00 ERA, which ranks top 25 in the country and second in The American behind Florida Atlantic.

Additionally, Memphis ranks second in the AAC in sacrifice bunts (2) and home runs (4) and leads the league in home runs per game (1.33, No. 56 nationally).

The Beacons will roll into Memphis searching for their first win of the season after being swept by Samford to open the year. Valpo lost a 4-2 game on Opening Day before being run-ruled in seven innings the final two games of the series.

The Tigers will roll out the pitching rotation of RHP Seth Garner (0-0, 0.00 ERA), LHP David Case (0-1, 12.25 ERA) and RHP Caden Robinson (0-0, 0.00 ERA) for the second-straight week. Garner and Robinson both pitched four-plus innings and allowed no runs in their first starts of the season, respectively. Case allowed five earned runs in four innings but picked up six strikeouts to lead Memphis in that category through the season's opening weekend.

Valpo will counter with RHP Connor Lockwood (0-1, 3.38 ERA, 8 IP, 7 K, 0 BB) , LHP Lucas Foley (0-1, 31.50 ERA) and RHP Spencer Boynton (0-1, 54.00 ERA) in the series finale. Offensively, the Beacons are led by Ryan Maka (.500 AVG, 2 HR, 4 RBI) and Case Sullivan (.400 AVG, 3 R).

Season-ticket packages and single-game tickets are available at THIS LINK. Kids ages 17 and under receive free general admission all season long.

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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Players Mentioned

David Case

Shane Cox

Luke Ellis

Seth Garner

Caden Robinson

Brayden Sanders

James Smith IV

Cade Tucker

Cy Turner