Tigers Drop Game Two to Rice, 9-5

Friday, April 18

Memphis, Tenn.

6:05 P.M.

University of Memphis

15-23, 3-11

Rice

11-30, 5-9

Rice

Memphis

Apr 18, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team dropped game two of a three-game American Athletic series to Rice, 9-5, on Friday night at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field.

The Tigers moved to 15-23 (3-11 American) on the season while the Owls improved to 11-30 (5-9 American) overall.

"I thought we pitched it better today, but the defensive play tonight was not good enough," head coach Matt Riser said. "We knew this series was important, but now you have to talk about the importance of every single game. The post-game message was really simple: If we play aggressive and we attack things, we'll put ourselves in a much better position to have success, and we will have success."

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Tigers struck first when freshman Michael Politte came through with a two-out RBI single through the right side to notch the first RBI of his collegiate career. Memphis got a second two-out run on an executed double steal play where Daniel Perez took second base and Politte came home to score.
• The Owls got a pair of unearned two-out runs of their own to tie the score at 2-2 in the top of the third.
• In the bottom of the third, catcher Justin Fogel singled down the right-field line to drive in Cade Greer and put the Tigers back in front by a run.
• Rice tied the game at three runs apiece with a sac-fly by Blaine Brown in the top of the fourth.
• In the bottom half of the fourth, first baseman Shane Cox left the yard for the fifth time this season to break the tie with a solo shot and make it a 4-3 Memphis advantage.
• The Owls jumped back in front with two runs in the fifth. An RBI single by Graiden West plated the first run before a Jacob Devenny ground out drove in the second. Rice added to its lead with a run in the top of the sixth with an RBI single by Michael Zito to make the score 6-4, Owls.
• Shane Cox drove in his second run of the night with a one-out RBI single that scored Seth Cox in the bottom of the sixth, trimming the Rice lead to a run.
• Rice got some insurance in the top of the eighth inning when they struck for three runs, the first two coming on a single to right field followed by a Memphis throwing error. The third run came in the next at-bat on a sac-fly from Treyton Rank to make the score 9-5, Owls.
• The Tigers were unable to get the offense going with their final six outs as Rice took the game 9-5 to clinch the series win.

NOTABLES
• Politte had a three-hit day (3-for-4) to mark the first multi-hit game of his collegiate career. He also logged his first collegiate RBI with a second-inning single. He also scored a run and stole a base.
• Shane Cox went 2-for-4 with his team-leading fifth home run (solo) of the season. He drove in a pair and scored twice.
• Seth Cox went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI, also scoring a run.
• Cade Greer was on base twice and ended the night 1-for-4 with a single, a run and a hit-by-pitch.
• Justin Fogel, Chase Nixon and Daniel Perez all recorded a hit. Perez also stole a base and Fogel drove in a run.
• LHP David Case made his 10^th start of the season and went 4.1 innings. He allowed five runs (zero earned) on six hits while striking out three and walking a pair. He was tagged with the loss to go to 1-5 on the season overall.
• RHP Charlie Smith threw the final 4.2 innings of relief. He allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits with one strikeout and three walks.
• Offensively, Memphis struck out just three times in the game to mark a season low.

UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back at FedExPark tomorrow at 12:05 p.m. for the series finale vs. the Owls.

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.