Tigers Take Both Games of Double Header, Aim for Series Sweep of Valpo

Saturday, February 22

Memphis, Tenn.

12:05 P.M.

University of Memphis

3-1

Valparaiso

0-4

Valparaiso

Memphis

Photo by: Auburn Sage

Tigers Take Both Games of Double Header, Aim for Series Sweep of Valpo

Feb 22, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team swept both games of a double header vs. Valparaiso at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field on Saturday, taking game one, 5-4, before winning game two by score of 9-3.

The Tigers (4-1) will aim for the series sweep of the Beacons (0-5) at 1:05 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.

"It's always good when you can sweep a double header," head coach Matt Riser said. "Hopefully the guys will be able to come out with the energy they need tomorrow to finish off a sweep. We talk about it all the time – you can't sweep unless you take care of business on the front side. Once you get yourself to this moment, this is what championship clubs do, they have to take care of business."

GAME ONE

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Valpo struck first in game one, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to jump out to a 2-0 lead.
• A two-out RBI single by James Smith IV in the bottom of the first got the Tigers on the board.
• In the bottom of the second, Shane Cox stayed hot and drove a solo home run out of the yard to left field – his second of the season – to tie the game at 2-2.
• Memphis took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI ground out by Smith IV.
• Valpo regained the lead with a two-run home run off the bat of Case Sullivan in the top of the fifth to make the score 4-3, Beacons.
• Chase Nixon came through with a clutch, two-out double down the right-field line and scored Will Vasseur all the way from first to tie the game at four runs apiece.
• The game stayed tied until Smith IV slapped a one-out triple down the right-field line on a called hit-and-run, again allowing Vasseur to score all the way from first base.
• RHP Kylan Stepter entered in the ninth and struck out the first two men he faced, running the fastball up to 95 miles per hour. After allowing a walk and a single, Stepter got a fly out for the final out of the inning to earn his first save of the season and clinch the 5-4 Tiger win.

NOTABLES
• Vasseur had a three-hit game, going 3-for-4 with three singles and three runs scored.
• Nixon went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored.
• Smith IV ended the game 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI.
• Shane Cox went 1-for-4 with a home run – his second of the season.
• Cy Turner went 1-for-3 in the win.
• Seth Garner made his second start of the year on the mound and went five innings, allowing seven hits and four runs while striking out four and walking a pair.
• LHP Logan Rushing made his season debut and threw 2.2 perfect innings with three strikeouts.
• Davis Oswalt threw one pitch and recorded one out and earned his second win of the season in relief to go to 2-0.
• Stepter earned his first save of the year.

GAME TWO

HOW IT HAPPENED
• LHP David Case made his second start of the year on the mound. He struck out the first two men he faced in the top of the first before Thomas Cooper struck a solo home run to put Valpo up 1-0.
• Case remained sharp but allowed a second solo home run to Valpo's Kade Reinertson in the top of the third, giving the Beacons a 2-0 lead.
• Memphis struck for a five-run inning in the bottom of the third, with all five runs being scored with two outs in the inning.
• A two-out double by catcher Jonah Sutton started it all. Vasseur then shot a single right back up the middle and drove in Sutton from second, leading to a Nixon single. Smith IV kept the line moving, shooting a single through the right side of the infield to score Vasseur. A Seth Cox walk loaded the bases and led to the big punch of the inning – a bases-clearing, three-run triple off the right-center field wall by Shane Cox. When the dust settled, it was 5-2, Memphis.
• In the bottom of the fourth, Nixon slugged his third double of the double header and drove in Sutton and second baseman Daniel Perez.
• The Tigers added a pair of runs in the sixth inning on a fielder's choice and an RBI ground out by Smith IV, to make the score 9-2, Memphis.
• Valpo got a run back in the seventh inning on an RBI double from Ryan Maka to make the score 9-3, Tigers, which held to be final.

NOTABLES
• Case earned his first win as a Tiger to improve to 1-1 on the season. The lefty struck out eight while allowing a pair of runs on just three hits.
• Nixon ended the game 2-for-3 with a double, a pair of RBI and a run scored. The left fielder had three doubles on the day and logged multi-hit efforts in both games of the double header.
• Sutton finished the game 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored from the bottom spot in the lineup.
• Smith IV ended the night 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. For the day, he drove in five runs.
• Vasseur went 1-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI from the leadoff spot in game two and finished the day with four hits.
• Shane Cox tripled in three runs and ended the game 1-for-4, also flying out to the warning track in his final at-bat of the day.
• Cy Turner went 1-for-3 and stole a base in the win.
• Michael Dallas and Connor Pittman each made their Memphis debuts on the mound. Dallas allowed one run in two innings of work, striking out two, walking two and allowing two hits. Pittman worked a near-perfect eighth and ninth inning, allowing just one walk and striking out four Beacons.

UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 p.m. for the series finale with the Beacons as they aim for a sweep.

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.