Tigers Drop Game, Series to No. 7 East Carolina

Sunday, April 28

Memphis, Tenn.

1 P.M.

University of Memphis

18-26, 6-12

East Carolina

35-8, 14-4

East Carolina

Memphis

Photo by: Louie Sanders

Apr 28, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team dropped the series finale of a three-game American Athletic Conference series, 8-3, to seventh-ranked East Carolina at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field in the Bluff City as the Pirates swept the series.

The Tigers dropped a to 18-26 overall (6-12 AAC) with the loss as the Pirates improved to 35-8 overall (14-4 AAC) and won their eighth-straight game.

"I thought we came out with the right energy, it was how we responded to some things," head coach Matt Riser said. "I thought Caden Robinson pitched very well. He got hurt by one pitch, but he gave us a great chance to win on a Sunday. The offense got off to a good start, but having bases loaded nobody out and not getting anything in the third, you felt the wind come out of the sails."

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Memphis jumped out to its first lead of the weekend when Pierre Seals flew out to left field and drove in Jake Curtis for a first-inning sacrifice fly.
• The Tigers added to their lead in the bottom of the second inning when Alex Fernandes shot an RBI single into center field to score Shane Cox.
• The No. 7 Pirates got on the board in the top of the fourth with a solo home run by Dixon Williams to make the score 2-1, Memphis.
• East Carolina took the lead in the fifth inning on a two-out, two-run shot off the bat of Carter Cunningham – his first of two big flies on the afternoon – this one putting the Pirates in front, 3-2.
• East Carolina added a run in the seventh inning when Cunningham slugged his second home run of the contest, a solo shot to make the score 4-2.
• The Pirates tacked on two more runs in the eighth and ninth innings to grow their lead to 8-2, but Austin Baskin connected for his sixth home run of the season in the bottom of the ninth to give the Tigers another run and make the score 8-3. The Tigers went down quietly after the Baskin home run and dropped the game and the series.

NOTABLES
• Robinson made his 11^th start of the season and pitched effectively for five innings. The right-hander allowed three runs on five hits, striking out a pair and walking a pair, but was tagged with the loss to fall to 1-3 on the year.
• Daunte Stuart had a three-hit day (all singles) in the loss. He extended his on-base streak to 15 games and has now reached base safely in 61 of his past 62 games dating back to last season.
• Baskin went 2-for-5 with his sixth home run and 30^th RBI of the campaign.
• Seals ended the day 1-for-3 with his 10^th two-bagger of the season and drove in a run.
• Riley Davis got the start in left field and went 1-for-2.
• Shane Cox ended the day 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk.
• Fernandes went 1-for-4 with an RBI single from the nine-spot in the Tiger lineup.

UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back in action Tuesday night when Arkansas-Pine Bluff comes to the 901. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at FedExPark.

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.