Offense goes quiet in shutout loss to Miami (OH)

Friday, March 12

Memphis, Tenn.

4 p.m.

University of Memphis

4-7

Miami (OH)

6-5

MIAMI

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Mar 12, 2021 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Tigers returned to FedExPark and took on non-Power Five competition for the first time in two weeks, but in the opener of a three-game series vs. Miami (OH) on Friday, the Memphis offense couldn't get started in a 9-0 shutout to the RedHawks. The Tigers (4-7) managed just five hits, all singles, over seven innings against Grant Hartwig (W, 2-1) and had a runner reach scoring position in just three innings in the loss.

The RedHawks jumped out to a quick start against Blake Wimberley (L, 0-2). The Memphis starter hit the first batter of the game, while Dalton Back followed with an RBI double for a 1-0 lead two batters into the game. Two batters later, a sacrifice fly from Nate Stone made it 2-0 and that proved to be more than enough for the RedHawks.

Miami (7-5) added three runs in the second inning, as Back connected with his second double in as many frames, which drove in a pair. Miami led 5-0 after 1.5 innings. Wimberley issued a leadoff walk to Stone in the third, one of three for the Memphis starter in the inning, as he departed for Dalton Kendrick with the bases loaded and one out. Kendrick walked the first man he faced, which forced in a run, though he then retired the next eight batters that he faced. Miami led 6-0 after 2.5 innings.

Hartwig controlled the Tigers' offense throughout his dazzling outing. He gave up a single to Hunter Goodman in the first inning, a single to Jaylen Wilbon in the third, another base hit to Goodman in the sixth, and singles to Zach Wilson and Austin Baskin in the seventh. Each time, the runner was stranded or eliminated on a double play, as the Tigers hit into two double plays and went 0-5 with runners in scoring position. Hartwig struck out three over seven-shutout innings.

The Memphis bullpen kept the deficit manageable through the middle third of the game, as Kendrick allowed just one run, but Miami put the game away against James Muse over the final three innings. Will Vogelgesang welcomed Muse to the game with a leadoff home run in the seventh, while Nick Clark capped off the night's scoring with a pinch-hit RBI double in the ninth.

Out of the Miami bullpen, Kevin Napoleon retired all six batters that he faced across the eighth and ninth frames, as he secured Miami's shutout victory.

The series continues tomorrow at 12 p.m. at FedExPark. The Tigers will try to snap a seven-game losing streak and pick up their fourth home win in five games. The three-game set concludes on Sunday with a 2:30 p.m. first pitch.