Tigers Walk-Off Lions in Extras to Even Series

Saturday, March 8

Memphis, Tenn.

2:05 P.M.

University of Memphis

9-5

Southeastern Louisiana

11-3

Southeastern

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Mar 08, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team walked off winners against Southeastern Louisiana, 5-4, behind CJ Willis' two-run single in extra innings on Saturday afternoon at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field.

The Tigers evened the series and improved to 9-5 on the season while the Lions dropped to 11-3 and had their four-game winning streak snapped.

"I think you got your money's worth if you were a fan today," head coach Matt Riser said. "We just found a way … Today our bullpen found a way to get it done for us and we were able to scratch some runs across … CJ Willis, man of the hour. Couldn't have happened to a better human being that everyone is rooting for. The entire dugout knew when CJ walked up there it was 'right man, right spot' and that he was going to get the job done."

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Much like game one of the series, it was a pitcher's duel early. A two-out Tiger error in the third extended the inning for Southeastern's Ty Salvaggio to connect on a two-out, two-run home run to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.
• Left-handed starter David Case was otherwise sharp over his 4.1 innings of work, striking out five while allowing a pair of unearned runs on three hits and a pair of walks.
• Memphis got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when James Smith IV scored on a dropped third strike, trimming the Lions' lead to a run.
• Case handed the ball off to RHP Davis Oswalt with one out and the bases loaded in the fifth, and Oswalt proceeded to get the Tigers out of the jam unscathed with a strikeout and a fly out.
• Oswalt worked a scoreless sixth and seventh frame as well before turning it over to Michael Dallas.
• Dallas struck out the first man he faced in the eighth before a pair of walks and a hit batter forced another move to the bullpen for Memphis – this time going to the right-hander Will Howell.
• Howell induced a fly out to center field before striking out the final out of the inning, winning an eight-pitch battle in the process to keep the Lions off the board once again.
• The Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the eighth when Cy Turner came home on a Smith IV fielder's choice.
• RHP Kylan Stepter entered for the ninth and held the Lions scoreless to force extra innings.
• In the 10^th, SLU's Ben Robichaux put a good swing on an outer-half fastball and slapped an opposite-field, two-run shot to put Southeastern back in front, 4-2.
• The Lions walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10^th before hitting catcher Jonah Sutton by a pitch to force in a run and cut the Memphis deficit to one. That brought Willis to the plate for the Tigers with one out and the bases juiced. Willis shot the first pitch he saw right back up the middle into center field to drive in Turner and Seth Cox to walk the Tigers off as winners, 5-4, and even the series.

NOTABLES
• Willis ended the game 1-for-1 with a two-run, game-winning single in his only at-bat of the contest after entering as a defensive replacement in right field.
• Chase Nixon had a pair of hits hitting in the lead-off spot for the first time this season.
• Smith IV went hitless in the win but drew a walk and scored a pair of runs.
• Freshman Carter McKay went 1-for-4 with a single and made his first start of the season defensively (LF) after starting eight games at designated hitter.
• Sutton went 0-for-2 but was on base three times with a pair of HBP and a walk. He was also credited with an RBI.
• Case took a no decision on the mound after going 4.1 innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits while striking out five and walking a pair.
• Oswalt, Dallas and Howell combined for 3.2 scoreless innings of relief. Oswalt allowed two hits and Dallas walked a pair, but those were the only four base runners allowed by the trio.
• Stepter threw the final two frames and earned the win to go to 1-0 on the season. He allowed two runs on two hits, also striking out a pair and walking a pair, respectively.
• The Tigers improved to 9-0 on the season when limiting opponents to four runs or less.

UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. for the series finale and rubber match with the Lions as Memphis aims to win its fourth-straight series to begin the season.

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.