Tuesday, February 25
Memphis, Tenn.
4:05 P.M.
University of Memphis
5-2
17
vs
3
Alabama A&M
2-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Alabama A&M
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
3
7
1
Memphis
3
1
6
3
4
0
X
17
12
1
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Tigers Explode for 17 Runs in Win Over Alabama A&M
Feb 25, 2025 | Baseball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team began a five-game week by exploding for 17 runs on its way to a 17-3 win over Alabama A&M at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field on Tuesday afternoon.
The Tigers improved to 5-2 overall with the win while the Bulldogs slipped to 2-5 on the year.
"Proud of the guys," head coach Matt Riser said. "We've got a road trip starting tomorrow with some quality opponents in Little Rock and Louisiana Tech. I thought tonight would have been an easy one to overlook … but I thought the guys did a really good job of being locked in and focused early."
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Tigers had the offense going early as they jumped out of the gate with a three-run first. An RBI groundout by Shane Cox plated the game's first run before freshman Carter McKay, in his second-career start, launched his first-career home run – a 412-foot, two-run shot that cleared the video board in right field to give Memphis a 3-0 lead.
• The Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the second inning with a solo home run off the bat of Xavier O'Neal.
• A sac-fly from shortstop Creek Robertson pushed across the fourth Memphis run of the game in the bottom of the second, scoring Daniel Perez.
• A six-run third inning for the Tigers busted the game open with the big blow coming on a bases-clearing double down the right-field line by catcher Jonah Sutton. Robertson also singled in a run with a base hit to center field and when the inning ended, Memphis led 10-1.
• Alabama A&M responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth on a wild pitch and an error to trim the Memphis lead to seven.
• The Tigers pushed across three more runs in the fourth, highlighted by an opposite-field, RBI double by Perez for his second hit of the night.
• Memphis used a pair of wild pitches, a bases-loaded walk and an RBI double by Cade Tucker to score four more times in the fifth and take the 17-3 lead that held to be final.
NOTABLES
• RHP Charlie Smith got the start and made his Memphis debut on the mound, going 3.2 innings and allowing a pair of earned runs (three total) on four hits and a walk while striking out a pair to earn the win and go to 1-0 on the season.
• Sophomore RHP Malik Harris made his season debut in relief and threw 2.1 scoreless innings while allowing just a pair of hits and a walk.
• Redshirt-freshman RHP Will Howell made his second appearance of the year and threw a scoreless seventh inning while striking out the side and allowing just one hit.
• Seven of the Tigers' nine starters recorded hits in the win and three Tigers logged multi-hit games: Will Vasseur (2-for-4), James Smith IV (2-for-2) and Perez (2-for-3).
• Vasseur drove in a run and scored a run while Smith IV slugged a double, scored three runs, walked once and stole three bags. Perez doubled, drove in a pair, scored once and walked once.
• Shane Cox and Cy Turner were the only Tiger starters without a hit in the win, but they each drove in a run.
• Sutton went 1-for-4 with a double, four RBI and a run scored.
• McKay homered for the first time of his collegiate career. His two-run shot in the first gave him a pair of RBI for the game while he scored and walked three times apiece, also stealing a base.
• Robertson went 1-for-3 at the plate with a pair of RBI. He also stole two bases and scored a run.
• Left fielder Chase Nixon went 1-for-3 with a walk and a pair of runs scored.
• Tucker went 1-for-2 with an RBI double and scored a run.
• Freshman Michael Politte recorded his first collegiate hit – a double down the left-field line on an 0-2 count in the bottom of the sixth.
• The Tigers stole seven bases as a team – the most since stealing seven on March 16, 2024, at New Orleans last season.
• The 17 runs scored by Memphis were the most for the Tigers since also scoring 17 vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff on April 30, 2024, last season.
• The Memphis offense drew 11 walks in the win, the most since also walking 11 times vs. Wichita State on May 17, 2024.
UP NEXT
• The Tigers hit the road for the first time of the season on Wednesday afternoon with a trip to Little Rock for a matchup with the Trojans (4-3).
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.
The Tigers improved to 5-2 overall with the win while the Bulldogs slipped to 2-5 on the year.
"Proud of the guys," head coach Matt Riser said. "We've got a road trip starting tomorrow with some quality opponents in Little Rock and Louisiana Tech. I thought tonight would have been an easy one to overlook … but I thought the guys did a really good job of being locked in and focused early."
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Tigers had the offense going early as they jumped out of the gate with a three-run first. An RBI groundout by Shane Cox plated the game's first run before freshman Carter McKay, in his second-career start, launched his first-career home run – a 412-foot, two-run shot that cleared the video board in right field to give Memphis a 3-0 lead.
• The Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the second inning with a solo home run off the bat of Xavier O'Neal.
• A sac-fly from shortstop Creek Robertson pushed across the fourth Memphis run of the game in the bottom of the second, scoring Daniel Perez.
• A six-run third inning for the Tigers busted the game open with the big blow coming on a bases-clearing double down the right-field line by catcher Jonah Sutton. Robertson also singled in a run with a base hit to center field and when the inning ended, Memphis led 10-1.
• Alabama A&M responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth on a wild pitch and an error to trim the Memphis lead to seven.
• The Tigers pushed across three more runs in the fourth, highlighted by an opposite-field, RBI double by Perez for his second hit of the night.
• Memphis used a pair of wild pitches, a bases-loaded walk and an RBI double by Cade Tucker to score four more times in the fifth and take the 17-3 lead that held to be final.
NOTABLES
• RHP Charlie Smith got the start and made his Memphis debut on the mound, going 3.2 innings and allowing a pair of earned runs (three total) on four hits and a walk while striking out a pair to earn the win and go to 1-0 on the season.
• Sophomore RHP Malik Harris made his season debut in relief and threw 2.1 scoreless innings while allowing just a pair of hits and a walk.
• Redshirt-freshman RHP Will Howell made his second appearance of the year and threw a scoreless seventh inning while striking out the side and allowing just one hit.
• Seven of the Tigers' nine starters recorded hits in the win and three Tigers logged multi-hit games: Will Vasseur (2-for-4), James Smith IV (2-for-2) and Perez (2-for-3).
• Vasseur drove in a run and scored a run while Smith IV slugged a double, scored three runs, walked once and stole three bags. Perez doubled, drove in a pair, scored once and walked once.
• Shane Cox and Cy Turner were the only Tiger starters without a hit in the win, but they each drove in a run.
• Sutton went 1-for-4 with a double, four RBI and a run scored.
• McKay homered for the first time of his collegiate career. His two-run shot in the first gave him a pair of RBI for the game while he scored and walked three times apiece, also stealing a base.
• Robertson went 1-for-3 at the plate with a pair of RBI. He also stole two bases and scored a run.
• Left fielder Chase Nixon went 1-for-3 with a walk and a pair of runs scored.
• Tucker went 1-for-2 with an RBI double and scored a run.
• Freshman Michael Politte recorded his first collegiate hit – a double down the left-field line on an 0-2 count in the bottom of the sixth.
• The Tigers stole seven bases as a team – the most since stealing seven on March 16, 2024, at New Orleans last season.
• The 17 runs scored by Memphis were the most for the Tigers since also scoring 17 vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff on April 30, 2024, last season.
• The Memphis offense drew 11 walks in the win, the most since also walking 11 times vs. Wichita State on May 17, 2024.
UP NEXT
• The Tigers hit the road for the first time of the season on Wednesday afternoon with a trip to Little Rock for a matchup with the Trojans (4-3).
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Charlie (1-0)
L: Charlie Lazo (0-1)
Batting:
2B: KJ Stanfield 1
HR: Xavier O'Neal 1
RBI: Xavier O'Neal 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Xavier O'Neal 2 ; Elvis Victoriano 1
SB: Trey Rutledge 1 ; Xavier O'Neal 1
HBP: Trey Rutledge 1 ; Charles Morris 1
Batting:
2B: Politte, Michael 1 ; Smith IV, James 1 ; Tucker, Cade 1 ; Sutton, Jonah 1 ; Perez, Daniel 1
HR: McKay, Carter 1
RBI: Vasseur, Will 1 ; Cox, Shane 1 ; Tucker, Cade 1 ; McKay, Carter 2 ; Turner, Cy 1 ; Sutton, Jonah 4 ; Perez, Daniel 2 ; Robertson, Creek 2
SF: Robertson, Creek 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Vasseur, Will 1 ; Nixon, Chase 2 ; Smith IV, James 3 ; Greer, Cade 1 ; Cox, Shane 1 ; Tucker, Cade 1 ; McKay, Carter 3 ; Turner, Cy 2 ; Sutton, Jonah 1 ; Perez, Daniel 1 ; Robertson, Creek 1
SB: Vasseur, Will 1 ; Smith IV, James 3 ; McKay, Carter 1 ; Robertson, Creek 2
HBP: Turner, Cy 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
3
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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RHP
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INF/OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF/RHP
/ Baseball
C/INF
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
INF
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