Memphis Welcomes Jacksonville State for Weekend Series

Friday, February 27

Memphis, Tenn.

4:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

Jacksonville State

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Memphis Welcomes Jacksonville State for Weekend Series

Feb 26, 2026 | Baseball

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (3-5) baseball team will return home to host Jacksonville State (7-2) for a three-game series after a 24-5 run-rule win at Little Rock on Tuesday.

This will be only the second all-time series between the two programs, with Jax State taking two of the three games. The Tigers and Gamecocks most recently met for a series in 2024, when Memphis opened its season in Jacksonville, Ala. Jax State took game one 6-5, in 13 innings before Memphis evened the series with a 7-4 win. Game three also went to extra innings where the Gamecocks claimed a 13-9 victory.

Memphis (3-5) is fresh off a stellar offensive showing in Little Rock, run-ruling the Trojans 24-5. The 24 runs were the most in a game for the Tigers since scoring 24 against Western Illinois in 2020. As a team, Memphis combined for 18 hits, the highest single-game mark since the 2023 season. Redshirt freshman Webb Watson belted a grand slam in Memphis' nine-run fifth inning. Watson was one of 11 Tiger batters to record a hit in the game, the first time Memphis has had 10 or more batters with a hit since 2021 against Grambling.

The Tigers increased their stolen-base total to 24 on the season. Memphis ranks first in the American Conference in stolen bases and 12^th in the nation. Senior Freddy Rodriguez stole two more bases on Tuesday and now boasts a 7-for-7 record on stolen-base attempts. Rodriguez is tied for 15^th in the country in stolen bases, and his seven are the sixth most in Division I.

Four different players (Jack Pitts, Webb Watson, Michael Gupton and Marcus Smith) went yard for Memphis against Little Rock, as the Tigers hit five total homers. The team accomplished a rare feat: the team home run cycle; Pitts' second long ball was a solo shot, Gupton and Smith both hit two-run homers, Pitts' first homer was a three-run shot, and Watson's grand slam completed the cycle.

Memphis has drawn 49 walks as a team this season, ranking 35^th nationally. Three Tigers are tied for the team lead with seven: junior Trae Cassidy, senior James Smith IV and graduate Javon Hernandez.

Infielder Shane Cox has been Memphis' top offensive performer to start the season. Cox leads the team in batting average (.424), hits (14), doubles (4) and RBIs (10). Cox's 14 hits are tied for 51^st in the nation, and he also has a hit in seven of eight games thus far.

Jax State (7-2) is on a seven-game win streak, including a series sweep of Toledo last weekend and two midweek victories over Mississippi Valley State.

The Tigers' rotation will remain the same, with RHP Seth Garner (0-1, 8.22 ERA) getting the start Friday, RHP Will Howell (0-1, 0.87 ERA) taking the mound Saturday and LHP David Case (1-1, 5.06 ERA) closing out the weekend. The Gamecocks will send out three lefties: Eli Pillsbury (1-0, 1.00 ERA), Steven Cash (0-1, 5.19 ERA) and Beau Bryans (0-0, 5.40 ERA). Saturday starter Steven Cash was named to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team and won CUSA Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 23.

Jax State is led offensively by Trey King (10 H / 3 2B / 13 TB), Caleb Johnson (7 H / 3 2B / 8 RBI) and Luke Williams (1.004 OPS / 6 H / 2B). The Gamecocks rank 20^th in the nation in hits allowed per nine innings at 6.40 so far this season.

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.