Turner's 2-Home Run Day Not Enough as Tigers Drop Series Finale to 49ers

Sunday, March 30

Memphis, Tenn.

1:05 P.M.

University of Memphis

11-16, 0-6

Charlotte

14-12, 4-2

Charlotte

Memphis

Photo by: Auburn Sage

Turner's 2-Home Run Day Not Enough as Tigers Drop Series Finale to 49ers

Mar 30, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team dropped a one-run game to Charlotte, 6-5, in the series finale of a three-game American Athletic Conference series at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field on Sunday afternoon.

A four-run eighth inning for the 49ers was too much for the Tigers to overcome as Will Vasseur's two-out solo shot in the bottom of the ninth wasn't enough for Memphis to complete a rally of its own.

The Tigers moved to 11-16 (0-6 AAC) on the season while the 49ers improved to 14-12 (4-2 AAC).

"Another tough one to swallow," head coach Matt Riser said. "We are hoping to win instead of knowing we are going to win, which wasn't the case early [in the season], we have to change that. I thought we did good job of showing up early, we just have to find a way to get it done. The only way to get out of this is to continue to work."

HOW IT HAPPENED
• It was all Memphis early as catcher Jonah Sutton got the scoring started with a solo shot down the left-field line in the bottom of the second. Shane Cox followed that up with a single through the left side of the infield before Cy Turner came to the plate and delivered his first of two home runs on the afternoon – a two-run, no-doubt shot to right field that traveled 405 feet and left the bat at 106 miles-per-hour to give Memphis a 3-0 lead.
• LHP Isaac Lucas got the start on the mound for the Tigers and gave them four solid innings. He struck out a batter to strand a pair of runners in the third inning to keep Charlotte scoreless through three.
• Turner came back to the plate to lead off the bottom of the fourth and went opposite field for his second home run of the game to grow the Memphis lead to 4-0.
• Charlotte got on the board in the top of the fifth when catcher Logan Poteet grounded into a double play and Carson Bayne scored on the play.
• The 49ers added a run in the sixth when Connor Maryniak homered to right field to trim the Memphis lead to a pair.
• Maryniak started a four-run inning off for the 49ers in the eighth with an RBI single to left field. Johnny Sutryk delivered the big blow for the 49ers with a three-run shot down the left-field line to give Charlotte a 6-4 lead.
• Vasseur came through with a two-out, two-strike solo home run in the bottom of the ninth for the Tigers, but it was not enough as Charlotte hung on to win, 6-5.

NOTABLES
• Memphis slugged four home runs in the game to mark the fourth time this season with three or more bombs in a game.
• Turner was responsible for two of those big flies, ending the day 2-for-4 with three RBI. The two home run game for Turner marks the second time this season a Tiger has gone yard twice in the same game (Chase Nixon; at Louisiana Tech, Feb. 28).
• Sutton ended the day 2-for-3 with a solo home run – his third of the season. He also drew a walk.
• Shane Cox singled and scored a run.
• Vasseur's solo home run was his second long ball of the season with both coming in the past four games (at Ole Miss; March 25).
• Nixon singled and drew a walk.
• Lucas went four innings and took a no decision. He allowed one run on five hits and four walks, striking out a pair.
• Will Howell threw two innings in relief of Lucas and gave up a run on two hits and a walk, also striking out a pair.
• Seth Cox was charged with the loss on the mound (1.1 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 2 K, 1 BB).
• Brayden Sanders threw the final 1.2 innings and did not allow a run on one hit. He struck out and walked two apiece.
• The Tigers walked eight 49ers on the day to match a season high (at Lipscomb; March 18).

UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back at FedExPark Tuesday night at 6:05 p.m. when they welcome Mississippi State (!6-12, 1-8 SEC) to the Bluff City for the first of two season matchups.

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.