Tigers Begin Final Road Stretch with Trip to Middle Tennessee

Tuesday, May 12

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

6:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

Middle Tennessee

Tigers Begin Final Road Stretch with Trip to Middle Tennessee

May 11, 2026 | Baseball

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (21-29, 12-12 American) baseball team hosts will start a four-game road trip to end the regular season with a midweek game against Middle Tennessee (24-27, 11-16 CUSA). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Middle Tennessee holds a slim 53-52 edge in the all-time series with Memphis Tigers entering Tuesday's matchup in Murfreesboro. The meeting will mark the 106th all-time contest between the programs and their first since the 2021 season, when Memphis won three of four games in the series. The Tigers will aim to pull even in the all-time series with a road victory on Tuesday.

Memphis (21-29, 12-12 American) followed last weekend's series upset over then conference-leading East Carolina with another series upset, this time against current conference leaders, UTSA. In game one, Memphis rallied from an early 3-0 deficit behind timely hitting and dominant relief pitching to earn the program's 2,000th victory. Brady McAbee led the way offensively with a three-run homer and four RBI as the Tigers limited UTSA to just three hits. In game two, the Roadrunners used an early four-run inning to even the series despite a two-RBI performance from James Smith IV. In the rubber match, Memphis erupted for eight runs in the sixth inning to erase a two-run deficit, highlighted by a towering three-run homer from Smith, as the Tigers secured the series win.

Memphis has blazed the basepaths all season, totaling 115 stolen bases to rank second-most in program history. The Tigers lead the American Conference in steals and sit 27th nationally. Senior Freddy Rodriguez has led the effort, going 39-for-44 on stolen base attempts to rank first in the conference and third in the country. Rodriguez is now just one steal away from breaking the program's single-season record.

Memphis has been solid defensively all season, recording a .974 fielding percentage that ranks 87^th nationally. The Tigers have committed just 46 errors on the year, leaving them two under the program's single-season record low of 48 set in 2022.

Fourteen different Tigers have gone deep this season, combining for 60 home runs as a team. Senior center fielder Michael Gupton has led the power surge with 13 homers, the second-highest total in the conference. James Smith IV has also been a key contributor at the plate, moving into a tie for seventh in the league with 10 home runs after adding two more this past week.

Middle Tennessee (24-27, 11-16 CUSA) comes into the midweek sitting ninth in the Conference USA standings after dropping two of three at FIU last weekend. In game one, the Blue Raiders claimed an 11-9 win thanks to Nathan Brewer's four homer performance, the first in CUSA history. In game two, FIU evened the series with a 7-5 win to force the Sunday rubber match. FIU claimed the series win with a 10-2 victory in the decider.

On the mound, the Tigers will start RHP Seth Impson (1-3, 8.36 ERA), who will make his 14^th appearance and eighth start for the Tigers. MTSU's starter for Tuesday is to be determined.

At the plate, MTSU has been led by Nathan Brewer (12 HR / 15 2B / 43 RBI), Owen Nowak (.330 AVG / 35 BB / 47 R), and Dean O'Neill (11 HR / 12 2B / 48 RBI). As a team, the Blue Raiders rank 63^rd in the nation in home runs (65), 71^st in doubles (98) and 93^rd in slugging percentage (.459).

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