Tigers Drop Game One to Roadrunners at FedExPark

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team fell in game one of a three-game American Athletic Conference series, 9-6, to conference-newcomer UTSA on Friday night at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field.

With the loss, the Tigers’ season total fell below.500, to 17-18 (5-5 AAC), while the Roadrunners, who are now leading the AAC, advanced to 20-14 (8-2 AAC).

Head coach Matt Riser stated, “I thought Dave [Warren] had a good outing against a good offense overall.” “I think we handled [their lineup] well; we just need to play better defense.” I informed the lads that their fighting was good. After trailing four, everything was set up for a successful comeback; we simply needed to make one more progress.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

• A sac-fly by designated hitter Jacob Compton plated the game’s first run in the bottom of the first to give Memphis a 1-0 lead.
• UTSA evened the score in the top of the second inning with a one-out RBI single back up the middle by Mason Lytle.
• The Roadrunners took their first lead of the game in the top of the fourth with a sac-fly to left field by Alexander Olivo. UTSA added on in the sixth with a three-run frame. Olivo drove in his second run of the game to give the Roadrunners a 3-1 advantage, and then Diego Diaz’s one-out single through the left side made it a 5-1 game.
• In the bottom of the sixth, Pierre Seals went opposite-field with two outs in the inning for a two-run shot – his eighth of the season – to put the Tigers within two runs.
• Brennan DuBose led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a solo shot to deep left field to put Memphis within a run. The big fly marked the sixth of the season for the senior backstop.
• Seals came back up in a big moment in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs again, Seals delivered a single to left field that allowed Daunte Stuart to come around and score all the way from first thanks to an error by the Roadrunner left fielder, tying the game at five runs apiece.
• In the top of the ninth, UTSA used a leadoff walk, three hits and three Tiger errors to retake the lead with a four-run frame.
• The Tigers scratched back for a run in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Jake Curtis, but that was all Memphis would get as it dropped game one of the series, 9-6