Tigers Shut Out Green Wave, 3-0, to Even Series

Saturday, May 4

New Orleans, La.

6:30 P.M.

University of Memphis

20-27, 0

Tulane

26-21, 0

Memphis

Tulane Green Wave

Seth Garner at Tulane, May 4, 2024 by Brock Busick

Photo by: Brock Busick

May 04, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS – The University of Memphis baseball team earned a 3-0 shutout over American Athletic Conference opponent Tulane at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium on Saturday night in the Big Easy.

The Tigers improved to 20-27 overall (7-13 AAC) with the win as the Green Wave dropped to 26-21 overall (10-10 AAC). The shutout win marked the first for the Tigers over an AAC opponent since 2019 when they blanked South Florida, 1-0.

Memphis starter Seth Garner was excellent, going 5.2 innings and allowing just one hit (three total base runners) and no runs while striking out a pair. The game stayed scoreless into the seventh inning until Alex Fernandes smashed a no-doubt, two-run shot to deep right field that gave the Tigers a 2-0 advantage.

"Great bounce-back win," head coach Matt Riser said. "We came out with the right energy and got a great start from Garner. He gave us exactly what we needed. The offense gave us some big hits in big moments and then Luke Ellis made big pitches in relief before we turned it over to Brayden Sanders to finish it."

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Knotted at zeroes into the top of the seventh inning, Jake Curtis worked a walk to set the table for Fernandes. Fernandes connected on a 2-1 fastball and deposited it 403 feet over the right-field wall to break the scoreless tie and put Memphis up 2-0.
• Brennan DuBose added to the lead in the top of the ninth with his eighth home run of the season – a solo shot that left the bat at 105 miles-per-hour and traveled 430 feet to clear the center field batter's eye.
• Lefty reliever Luke Ellis bridged the gap between Garner and AAC saves leader Brayden Sanders with 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out four to earn the win. Sanders entered in the ninth and slammed the door for his eighth save of the season.

NOTABLES
• Fernandes' two-run blast was his second big fly of the season and his first since the opening weekend of the season at Jacksonville State. He homered, drove in a pair of runs, scored once and stole his 10^th bag of the campaign.
• DuBose was slotted into the leadoff spot for the first time this season and had a 2-for-5 night with the solo home run.
• Austin Baskin and Shane Cox each tallied a pair of hits in the win.
• Pierre Seals went 1-for-4 and made a Sportscenter-worthy play in right field, leaping and taking away a Tulane home run in the bottom of the eighth inning.
• Daunte Stuart ended the night 1-for-4 and has now reached base in 64 of his past 65 games dating back to last season.
• Seth Cox ended the night 1-for-4.
• Ellis earned his first win of the season on the mound and Sanders notched his eighth save to add to his league-leading total.

UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium tomorrow for the series finale and rubber match with the Green Wave. First pitch is scheduled for 1 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.