Rodriguez Breaks Memphis Single-Season Stolen Base Record in Loss to MTSU

Tuesday, May 12

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

6:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

21-30

Middle Tennessee

25-27

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Memphis	2	3	0	0	0	1	3	0	0	9	13	1
Middle Tenn.	2	0	1	3	0	0	4	0	X	10	15	1

Rodriguez Breaks Memphis Single-Season Stolen Base Record in Loss to MTSU

May 12, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (21-30, 12-12 American) baseball team dropped a back-and-forth midweek contest to Middle Tennessee (25-27, 11-16 CUSA), 10-9, Tuesday evening at Reese Smith Jr. Field.

The Tigers erased multiple deficits and totaled 13 hits on the night, but Middle Tennessee answered with a four-run seventh inning to secure the victory.

Freddy Rodriguez highlighted the night, stealing his 40^th base on the season in the first inning, breaking the Memphis single-season stolen base record. Rodriguez finished with three stolen bases on the night. Michael Gupton finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base of his own. Trae Cassidy added two hits and scored twice for the Tigers.

Middle Tennessee's John Michael Pickens (2-2) earned the win in relief, while Brayden Sanders (0-1) suffered the loss for Memphis. Mason Dobbs recorded the save for the Blue Raiders.

Memphis will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina for its final series of the regular season against the 49ers. Game times are set for 5:05 p.m. Thursday and Friday with a 12:05 p.m. first pitch for the finale.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Freddy Rodriguez walked to open the game before taking off for second and stealing his record-breaking 40^th base of the season easily.
Memphis later struck first in the opening inning after Brady McAbee drove in Rodriguez with a sacrifice fly before Michael Gupton added an RBI single to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Middle Tennessee answered immediately in the bottom half when Cooper Clapp launched a two-run homer to right field to tie the game.
The Tigers regained momentum in the second inning, scoring three runs behind an RBI single from McAbee and a Middle Tennessee error to build a 5-2 advantage.
The Blue Raiders chipped away with a run in the third before taking the lead with a three-run fourth inning fueled by RBI singles from Brett Vondohlen and Tyler Minnick, making it 6-5.
Memphis tied the game in the sixth after Rodriguez brought home Tyler Harrington on a fielder's choice.
The Tigers reclaimed the lead in the seventh inning with three runs. Cade Hitson delivered an RBI groundout before Rodriguez lined a two-run single to center field to put Memphis ahead 9-6.
Middle Tennessee responded in the bottom half of the seventh with four runs on three hits, highlighted by RBI knocks from Brett Rogers, Dean O'Neill and Matt Wolfe, to retake the lead at 10-9.
Memphis threatened in the eighth after Gupton singled and advanced into scoring position, but the Blue Raiders escaped the jam and closed out the victory in the ninth.

NOTABLES

Freddy Rodriguez stole three bases on Tuesday, breaking the single-season program record for stolen bases.
- Rodriguez broke the record after drawing a leadoff walk and stealing second in the top of the first.
- The previous record was 39, originally set in 1975, and is now set at 42 with three games still remining in the regular season.
Trae Cassidy, Michael Gupton and Rodriguez all stole bases for the Tigers, bringing the team's season total to 120 steals, which ranks in the top 30 nationally and first in the conference.
- The 120 steals are the second-most in a single season in school history.
- Cassidy tallied his fifth swipe of the season, while Gupton stole his 15^th base.
Center Fielder Michael Gupton went 3-for-5 on the day with a run scored and an RBI.
- Gupton has now recorded 55 hits this season as well as 14 multi-hit games and four games with three or more hits.
Catcher Trae Cassidy added two hits for the second straight game, while also scoring two runs and adding an RBI and a walk.
- Cassidy has now recorded 10 multi-hit games
Third baseman Freddy Rodriguez posted a three-RBI day for Memphis.
- Rodriguez posted his 10^th multi-RBI game and his third game with three or more RBI to go along with his record-breaking day.
First baseman Tyler Harrington finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
- Harrington brought his season hits total to 45 on Tuesday night.

SCORING SUMMARY

Top 1:
Brady McAbee grounded out, Freddy Rodriguez scored.
Michael Gupton singled, Trae Cassidy scored.
Memphis 2, MTSU 0

Bottom 1:
Cooper Clapp homered, Owen Nowak scored.
Memphis 2, MTSU 2

Top 2:
Trae Cassidy reached on an error, Cade Hitson and Tyler Harrington scored.
Brady McAbee singled, Trae Cassidy scored.
Memphis 5, MTSU 2

Bottom 3:
Nathan Brewer singled, Tyler Minnick scored.
Memphis 5, MTSU 3

Bottom 4:
Brett Vondohlen singled, Brett Rogers scored.
Owen Nowak reached on a fielder's choice, Dean O'Neill scored.
Tyler Minnick singled, Brett Vondohlen scored.
Memphis 5, MTSU 6

Top 6:
Freddy Rodriguez reached on a fielder's choice, Tyler Harrington scored.
Memphis 6, MTSU 6

Top 7:
Cade Hitson grounded out, Shane Cox scored.
Freddy Rodriguez singled, Michael Gupton and Webb Watson scored.
Memphis 9, MTSU 6

Bottom 7:
Brett Rogers doubled, Layne Akers scored.
Dean O'Neill singled, Brett Rogers scored.
Matt Wolfe singled, Dean O'Neill scored.
Tyler Minnick hit by pitch, Brett Vondohlen scored.
Memphis 9, MTSU 10

UP NEXT

Memphis will wrap up its regular season with a crucial conference series at Charlotte starting Thursday. Game times are scheduled for 5:05 p.m. on Thursday and Friday with the regular season finale set for 12:05 p.m.

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.