Tigers Drop Opening Game of Grind City Classic

Friday, February 20

Memphis, Tenn.

5:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

2-3

Ohio State

4-1

Ohio State

Memphis

Feb 20, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team suffered a 12-5 defeat on Friday to Ohio State in the opening game of the 2026 Grind City Classic.

The Tigers took an early 3-0 lead after the first inning before the Buckeyes battled back to tie the game at 5-5 heading into the sixth inning. Ohio State's pitching staff then shut down Memphis in the final four frames, while the Buckeyes hit a grand slam in the sixth and another home run in the eighth to seal the victory.

The Tigers will continue the Grind City Classic at 12:05 p.m. Saturday against Louisiana Tech at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The top of the order continued to shine for Memphis, with Javon Hernandez and Trae Cassidy both reaching base in the top of the first before Freddy Rodriguez brought them home with a double down the left-field line.
Shane Cox then put the Tigers up three early with an RBI single that plated Rodriguez.
Ohio State responded in the second and third innings with an RBI double from Alex Bemis and a sacrifice fly from Noah Furcht.
Memphis extended the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the third via an RBI double from Cox.
The Buckeyes temporarily took the lead in the fifth, scoring three runs on two hits and an error.
James Smith IV knocked in a big run in the fifth with an RBI single through the left side.
The sixth inning proved troublesome for the Tigers, as the Buckeyes loaded the bases with only one out. Mason Eckelman proceeded to hit a grand slam to give Ohio State a 9-5 lead.
Ohio State never surrendered its lead, adding three more runs in the eighth to seal the deal.

NOTABLES

Memphis has scored five or more runs in every game to start the season for the first time since 1991, when they scored five or more runs in each of their first 15 games.
Freddy Rodriguez, Trae Cassidy, and Javon Hernandez all stole bases for the Tigers, improving the team's season total to 16 steals in 16 attempts which ranks in the top 20 nationally and first in the American.
Graduate first baseman Shane Cox went 2-for-4 on the day with a double and two RBI. Cox has collected a hit in every game this season and has had multiple hits in four of five.
Cox, a Munford, Tennessee, native, is hitting .391 with nine hits and seven RBI on the young season.
Freshman RHP Aiden Steht made his collegiate debut, pitching a scoreless ninth inning for the Tigers.

SCORING SUMMARY

Bottom 1:

Freddy Rodriguez doubled, Javon Hernandez and Trae Cassidy scored.

Shane Cox singled, Freddy Rodriguez scored.

Memphis 3, Ohio State 0

Top 2:

Alex Bemis doubled, Henry Kaczmar scored.

Memphis 3, Ohio State 1

Top 3:

Noah Furcht hit a sacrifice fly, Miles Vandenheuvel scored.

Memphis 3, Ohio State 2

Bottom 3:

Shane Cox doubled, Freddy Rodriguez scored.

Memphis 4, Ohio State 2

Top 5:

Lee Ellis reached on an error, Miles Vandenheuvel scored.

Noah Furcht singled, Lee Ellis scored.

Henry Kaczmar singled, Noah Furcht scored.

Memphis 4, Ohio State 5

Bottom 5:

James Smith IV singled, Trae Cassidy scored.

Memphis 5, Ohio State 5

Top 6:

Mason Eckelman homered, CJ Reid, Alex Bemis and Miles Vandenheuvel scored.

Memphis 5, Ohio State 9

Top 8:

Lee Ellis singled, Maddix Simpson scored.

Mason Eckelman homered, Lee Ellis scored.

Memphis 5, Ohio State 12

UP NEXT

Memphis is back in action at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field on Saturday at 12:05 p.m. for game two of the Grind City Classic against Louisiana Tech.

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.