Tigers Pick Up Two Wins on Sunday, Complete Sweep of Owls

Saturday, April 18

Houston, Texas

12:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

14-23, 6-8

Rice

24-16, 7-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Memphis	0	1	0	1	2	0	3	0	3	10	10	1
Rice	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	0	1	6	7	2

Tigers Pick Up Two Wins on Sunday, Complete Sweep of Owls

Apr 19, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HOUSTON, Texas. – The University of Memphis (15-23, 7-8 American) baseball team completed a series sweep at Reckling Park, defeating Rice (24-17, 7-8 American) in both the resumed game two and game three to secure their first conference series win.

Game two, which was suspended after seven innings on Saturday night, resumed Sunday at 12:05 p.m., with Memphis pulling away late for a 10-6 victory. The Tigers followed it up with a 6-5 comeback win in 10 innings in game three, which began at 1:40 p.m.

In game one, Memphis erupted for 10 runs on 10 hits, using a pair of multi-run innings and late insurance to secure the 10-6 victory in a game that was suspended after the seventh inning Saturday and resumed Sunday afternoon. The Tigers built a 7-5 lead before weather halted play, then tacked on three runs in the ninth after the restart to pull away, overcoming a four-run Rice seventh-inning surge.

David Case (3-6) earned the win after allowing just one run over six innings, while Ethan Sanders (2-5) took the loss for the Owls. Carson Fair recorded his eighth save of the season after closing out the final 1.2 innings.

In game three, Memphis rallied from a three-run deficit and scored the go-ahead run in the 10th inning to claim a 6-5 extra-inning win and complete the series sweep. After falling behind 5-2 midway through the game, the Tigers chipped away with runs in the eighth and ninth before taking the lead on a sacrifice fly in the 10th.

Logan Rushing (1-2) earned the win with three scoreless innings out of the bullpen, while Ty Thames (2-3) was charged with the loss for Rice.

Memphis will take its five-game win streak south to Starkville, Mississippi for a midweek game against the ranked Bulldogs. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game two - Memphis 10, Rice 6 (Suspended Saturday, resumed Sunday)

Memphis struck first in the second inning on a solo home run from James Smith IV.
The Tigers added another run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Smith IV before extending the lead in the fifth on a two-run homer by Marcus Smith.
Memphis broke the game open in the seventh with three runs, highlighted by an RBI single from Freddy Rodriguez and an RBI double from Javon Hernandez.
Rice answered with four runs in the bottom half, including a grand slam, to cut the deficit.
After the game resumed Sunday, Memphis added three insurance runs in the ninth to seal the 10-6 win.

Game three - Memphis 6, Rice 5 (10 inn.)

Memphis opened the scoring in the first inning on an RBI double from James Smith IV.
Michael Gupton extended the lead with a solo home run in the fourth inning.
Rice responded with a four-run fifth inning and added another in the sixth to take a 5-2 lead.
Brady McAbee cut into the deficit with a solo homer in the eighth.
Memphis tied the game in the ninth on an RBI single from Jack Pitts and a sacrifice fly from Marcus Smith.
In the 10th inning, Smith IV delivered a sacrifice fly to score the go-ahead run, and Logan Rushing closed it out to secure the win.

NOTABLES

Game two - Memphis 10, Rice 6 (Suspended Saturday, resumed Sunday)

With the win Memphis clinched its first conference series win this season.
Starter David Case pitched six innings of one-run baseball while allowing just four hits and striking out three.
- Game two marked Case's fourth straight quality start for the Tigers.
- Case tied season-best marks in runs allowed (1), hits (4) and walks (0).
Memphis closer Carson Fair entered the game in the eighth inning, inheriting a bases loaded jam with one out in the inning.
- Fair went to work, striking out his first batter faced before getting out of the jam with a fly out to center.
- Fair went on to close the game for the Tigers earning his eighth save of the season, a mark that is tied for first in the conference and tied for third in the nation.
Shortstop Freddy Rodriguez went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI.
- Rodriguez recorded his 12^th multi-hit game and sixth multi-RBI game of the season while also picking up his 40^th hit.
Designated hitter James Smith IV blasted his seventh home run of the year and logged his ninth multi-RBI game this season.
Right fielder Marcus Smith joined the home run party with his second long ball of the year.
- Also picked up his second game with multiple RBI.
First baseman Tyler Harrington went 2-for-4 on the day with a run scored.
- Harrington now has 10 multi-his games and hit his fourth double of the year.
Shortstop Javon Hernandez batted second in the lineup and finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI, and a walk.
- Smacked his ninth double thus far.

Game three - Memphis 6, Rice 5 (10 inn.)

The Tigers earned their first series sweep since taking all three from UAB at home last season from May 2-4.
Freddy Rodriguez stole a base for the Tigers, bringing the team's season total to 89 steals, which ranks in the top 25 nationally and first in the conference.
- Rodriguez increased his season total to 31.
- He ranks first in the conference and fifth in the nation.
- Rodriguez is 9 bags away from breaking Memphis' all-time single-season stolen base record (39).
Center fielder Michael Gupton blasted his team-leading 11^th home run in the fourth inning.
- His 11 home runs put him at third most in the American.
- Also picked up his 36^th RBI of the season, most on the team.
Designated hitter James Smith IV logged his ninth multi-RBI performance on Sunday.
- Smith IV recorded the first and last RBI of the game for Memphis, bringing in the winning run of the game in the tenth inning on a sacrifice fly.
- His RBI-double in the first was his 14^th extra-base hit this year.
Catcher Brady McAbee hit his third dinger of the year in the eighth inning to start the Tigers' comeback.
Jack Pitts pinch-hit late in the game and delivered a RBI single that scored Gupton to bring Memphis within one in the ninth inning.
Right fielder Marcus Smith batted ninth and completed the comeback in the ninth inning, scoring Tyler Harrington on a sacrifice fly.
Logan Rushing recorded his first win of the season for Memphis.
- Rushing pitched the final three innings for the Tigers, allowing no runs on just one hit while striking out three Rice batters.
- His three innings pitched are tied for his longest outing this season.

SCORING SUMMARY

Game two - Memphis 10, Rice 6 (Suspended Saturday, resumed Sunday)

Top 2:
James Smith IV homered
Memphis 1, Rice 0

Top 4:
James Smith IV hit a sacrifice fly, Javon Hernandez scored
Memphis 2, Rice 0

Top 5:
Marcus Smith homered, Cade Hitson scored.
Memphis 4, Rice 0

Bottom 6:
Paul Smith homered.
Memphis 4, Rice 1

Top 7:
Freddy Rodriguez singled, Tyler Harrington scored and Marcus Smith scored on a fielding error.
Javon Hernandez doubled, Freddy Rodriguez scored.
Memphis 7, Rice 1

Bottom 7:
Cole Green homered, Landon West, Aric Anderson and Landis Davila scored.
Memphis 7, Rice 5

Top 9:
Freddy Rodriguez singled, Webb Watson scored.
Brady McAbee reached on a fielder's choice, Freddy Rodriguez scored on a throwing error.
Javon Hernandez scored on a passed ball.
Memphis 10, Rice 5

Bottom 9:
Lorenzo Rios grounded out, Paul Smith scored.
Memphis 10, Rice 6

Game three - Memphis 6, Rice 5 (10 inn.)

Top 1:
James Smith IV doubled, Brady McAbee scored.
Memphis 1, Rice 0

Top 4:
Michael Gupton homered.
Memphis 2, Rice 0

Bottom 5:
Landis Davila singled, Kutter-Gage Webb scored.
Cole Green doubled, Lorenzo Rios scored.
Colin Robson hit a sacrifice fly, Landis Davila scored.
Paul Smith doubled, Cole Green scored.
Memphis 2, Rice 4

Bottom 6:
Kutter-Gage Webb grounded out, Hiram Bocachica Jr. scored.
Memphis 2, Rice 5

Top 8:
Brady McAbee homered.
Memphis 3, Rice 5

Top 9:
Jack Pitts singled, Michael Gupton scored.
Marcus Smith hit a sacrifice fly, Tyler Harrington scored.
Memphis 5, Rice 5

Top 10:
James Smith IV hit a sacrifice fly, Javon Hernandez scored.
Memphis 6, Rice 5

UP NEXT

Memphis will ride a five-game winning streak into Starkville, Mississippi to take on the No. 17 Bulldogs on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Dudy Noble Field.

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