Cox’s Walk-Off Home Run Gives Tigers Run-Rule Win Over Rice

Saturday, April 19

Memphis, Tenn.

12:05 P.M.

University of Memphis

16-23, 4-11

Rice

11-31, 5-10

Rice

Memphis

Cox’s Walk-Off Home Run Gives Tigers Run-Rule Win Over Rice

Apr 19, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team earned a 13-3 run-rule win over Rice behind Shane Cox's seventh inning walk-off home run on Saturday afternoon at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field.

The Tigers improved to 16-23 (4-11 American) on the season while the Owls fell to 11-31 (5-10 American) overall. Cox's walk-off bomb was the first game-ending home run for the Tigers since Hunter Goodman vs. Southern on April 6, 2019.

"Good bounce back today," head coach Matt Riser said. "We talked about the importance and value of each of these games down the stretch … To be able to get a win today was extremely important for us moving forward to keep us in the race. We just have to focus on us and take it one game at a time."

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Rice got on the board in the top of the first inning on a sac-fly off the bat of Landon West.
• In the bottom of the second, second baseman Daniel Perez came through with a clutch two-strike, two-out RBI single to right field that scored Shane Cox after he got on base with a double earlier in the inning and tied the game at 1-1.
• Michael Zito tripled to left-center field in the top of the third to drive in a run and give the Owls a 2-1 lead.
• Chase Nixon led off the bottom of the third with a no-doubt solo shot to right field to tie the game back up for the moment. Back-to-back singles by Justin Fogel and Seth Cox followed by a Carter McKay walk loaded the bases for freshman Michael Politte, who delivered a two-out, two-run double off the right field wall to put Memphis in front, 4-2.
• A lead-off walk in the bottom of the fifth by Fogel was followed up by a Seth Cox single before a two-run single off the bat of Shane Cox brought them both home to make it a 6-2 Tiger lead.
• The Tigers added on four runs in the sixth inning, started with a lead-off walk by Nixon. Fogel doubled down the right-field line to drive in Nixon before Seth Cox came to the plate and smashed a two-run shot into the left-field parking lot. Later in the inning, Perez delivered his second two-out RBI knock of the contest with a single back up the middle to drive in Politte and make it a 10-2 Memphis lead.
• With a potential run-rule victory in sight, Nixon led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single back up the middle to set the table. Fogel ripped his second RBI double of the game to drive in Nixon, bringing Shane Cox to the plate. Cox wasted no time, teeing off on the first pitch he saw and sending it over the left-center field wall for a two-run home run to walk the Tigers off as winners, 13-2.

NOTABLES
• Five Tigers recorded multi-hit performances: Nixon, Fogel, Seth Cox, Shane Cox and Perez.
• Memphis has now tallied 10-plus hits in four-consecutive games and in seven of the last 10.
• Shane Cox ended the day 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, four RBI and two runs scored – including the two-run home run to end it in the seventh. Cox has homered in back-to-back games and leads the squad with six big flies on the season.
• Fogel finished the game 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and four runs scored. His four runs scored marked the first-such performance since Daunte Stuart scored four times at South Florida (3/22/2024).
• Seth Cox homered for the second time this season and finished the afternoon 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI.
• Nixon went 2-for-4, scored three times and drove in a run from the lead-off spot. He also walked once.
• Perez had a pair of two-out RBI knocks in the win. He finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and two stolen bases.
• Politte made his second-consecutive start – and his first start at shortstop – and was on base all four times he came to the plate. The freshman finished the day 1-for-1 with a two-run double and walked three times.
• Redshirt-freshman right-hander Will Howell earned the first win of his Memphis career in 2.2 innings of relief. He struck out three and walked three while not allowing a hit.
• LHP Isaac Lucas made his eighth start of the season on the mound and went 2.1 innings. He allowed two runs on three hits, striking out three and walking just one.
• RHP Malik Harris threw 1.1 innings and allowed one hit. He struck out a pair and walked a pair, respectively.
• LHP Luke Ellis faced just one batter but recorded a pair of outs. He entered the game with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning and immediately induced an inning-ending double play to get Memphis out of the jam unscathed.

UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back at FedExPark on Tuesday night for a midweek matchup vs. Arkansas State (18-21, 8-10 SBC) with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 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.