Nixon’s Grand Slam Pushes Memphis Past LA Tech for Series Win

Sunday, March 2

Ruston, La.

1 P.M.

University of Memphis

7-4

Louisiana Tech

6-5

Memphis

Louisiana Tech

Chase Nixon grand slam at LA Tech, March 2, 2025

Photo by: Brock Busick

Nixon’s Grand Slam Pushes Memphis Past LA Tech for Series Win

Mar 02, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score

RUSTON, La. – The University of Memphis baseball team picked up a series win at Louisiana Tech on Sunday afternoon as Chase Nixon's grand slam was the difference in the Tigers' 7-3 win over the Bulldogs at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

The Tigers improved to 7-4 with the win while the Bulldogs slipped to 6-5 on the season.

"Fantastic job by our guys this weekend," head coach Matt Riser said. "Tough environment to play in and we did a good job getting the win Friday night. Obviously, yesterday didn't go our way … but we talk about playing the long game throughout a weekend series. It was a great job and a full team effort from top to bottom today, from the start we got, to the last punch James [Smith IV] threw there in the ninth to get the insurance run."

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Tigers got on the board first in the top of the second inning with a two-out RBI double into the left-center field gap by shortstop Creek Robertson that scored Jonah Sutton.
• LA Tech used some small ball and a Memphis error to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third with both runs scoring unearned.
• The Tigers loaded the bases in the top of the fourth and tied the game when Will Vasseur was hit by a pitch to force in a run. After a two-home run game on Friday night, Nixon came to the plate with the bases juiced and deposited a no-doubt grand slam over the train tracks in right field for his third big fly of the series to give Memphis a 6-2 lead.
• Starting pitcher Caden Robinson held the Bulldogs scoreless in the fourth and exited with a 6-2 lead, handing it over to the Tiger bullpen after going four innings and allowing a pair of unearned runs on six hits.
• Right-handed reliever Davis Oswalt entered in the fifth and used a double play and a strikeout to hold LA Tech scoreless.
• Bulldog Cade Patterson led off the sixth with his second home run of the weekend, but it would be the only hit the Tiger bullpen would allow in five innings of work. Oswalt went 3.1 innings allowing one hit and one run while striking out three and walking one before turning it over to lefty Logan Rushing.
• Rushing finished the eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts and then handed the ball off to Kylan Stepter.
• Memphis got a crucial insurance run in the top of the ninth when Smith IV laced his second double of the game and then stole third base before coming home on a wild pitch to make the score 7-3, Tigers.
• Stepter worked around a walk and a hit batter in the ninth to finish the game and secure the Memphis victory.

NOTABLES
• The series win marks the third-consecutive series win for the Tigers to begin the season, also picking up wins over SEMO and Valparaiso. This marks the first time the Tigers have won three-consecutive series to begin a season since 2014.
• Two of the three series wins have come over 2024 Regional-qualifying teams (SEMO, LA Tech).
• Nixon's grand slam gave him four RBI for the game and seven for the series thanks to three home runs on the weekend.
• Smith IV ended the game 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, two stolen bases and a run scored.
• Utility man Seth Cox got the start in right field and went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run.
• Sutton ended the game 1-for-2 with a walk, hit-by-pitch and a pair of runs scored.
• Robertson finished the day 1-for-3 with an RBI double, a walk and a run scored.
• Robinson was awarded the win after allowing no earned runs over four innings, striking out three and walking two.
• Oswalt, Rushing and Stepter combined for five innings of relief and allowed just a single hit (solo home run, Oswalt). The trio combined for five strikeouts and just two walks.

UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back in the Bluff City on Tuesday night when they welcome Central Arkansas for a midweek game at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 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.