University of Memphis Athletics
Saturday, May 3
Memphis, Tenn.
4:05 P.M.
University of Memphis
18-28, 6-14
12
vs
10
UAB
23-24, 7-13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
UAB
0
6
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
10
10
2
Memphis
0
8
0
0
1
2
1
0
X
12
11
5
Photo by: Auburn Sage
Eight-Run Inning Propels Tigers to Series-Clinching Win Over UAB
May 03, 2025 | Baseball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team erased a 6-0 deficit, using an eight-run bottom of the second inning to propel it to a 12-10, American Athletic Conference series-clinching win over UAB at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field on Saturday night.
The Tigers improved to 18-28 (6-14 AAC) on the season while the Blazers dropped to a game below .500 (23-24, 7-13 AAC) on the season.
"The response to our early defensive miscues was key," head coach Matt Riser said. "At the end of the day, when we had to make a play, we made the play. When we had to make a pitch, we made it. When he had to have an at-bat, we did it. That's the beauty of it. Guys are finding a way to overcome it. I think that's the important part."
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Blazers jumped out to an early lead in the top of the second after three Tiger errors in the inning led to a six-run frame for UAB with only two of the runs being earned.
• The Tigers clapped back with a big inning of their own in the bottom half of the inning, erupting for eight runs on a trio of home runs. Freshman Carter McKay slugged a towering two-run shot to right field before Justin Fogel added three more to the board with a three-run jack. After a double off the top of the wall by Shane Cox and Seth Cox was hit by a pitch, Chase Nixon came to the plate and mashed the third long ball of the inning to put Memphis in front, 8-6.
• The Blazers scratched across a run in the third and another in the fourth to tie the game up at eight runs apiece.
• Memphis regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI ground out by Fogel to make the score 9-8, Tigers.
• Creek Robertson clutched up for a two-out, two-run single through the left side of the infield in the bottom of the sixth, driving in Seth Cox and Jack Pitts to grow the Memphis lead to 11-8.
• Shane Cox clubbed a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning to add another insurance run to the Tigers' lead.
• A bases-loaded error by the Tigers in the top of the ninth inning made it a two-run game, but closer Brayden Sanders responded with three-straight strikeouts to slam the door on the Blazers and pick up his fourth save of the season as the Tigers clinched the series victory.
NOTABLES
• The three-home run inning for the Tigers in the bottom of the second marked the first-such frame since slugging three home runs in the third inning of a 14-4 win over Central Arkansas last season when the Tigers matched a program record with seven long balls.
• The two teams combined for 14 runs in the second inning alone.
• RHP Charlie Smith threw career-long 5.1 innings of relief and was highly effective. The junior allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits, striking out five and walking none. He earned the win and improved to 2-0 on the season while lowering his ERA to 4.12 (39.1 IP).
• Sanders earned his fourth save of the season with three strikeouts in the ninth (one walk, no hits).
• McKay, Fogel, Nixon and Shane Cox all homered to mark the fourth game this season the Tigers have slugged four-plus long balls. McKay and Fogel each slugged their third of the season. Nixon's blast was his seventh of the season while Cox's gave him the team lead with eight.
• Shane Cox, Seth Cox and Pitts all recorded two-hit games, each scoring a pair of runs.
• Fogel drove in four runs and Nixon drove in three – raising his season total to 28 to lead the squad.
• Robertson ended the game 1-for-3 with two RBI, two walks and a run scored.
• Freshman Michael Politte went 1-for-5 and scored a run. He's now hit safely in seven on the last eight games and extended his hitting streak to five games.
UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field tomorrow afternoon to try and complete the sweep of the Blazers. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 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.
The Tigers improved to 18-28 (6-14 AAC) on the season while the Blazers dropped to a game below .500 (23-24, 7-13 AAC) on the season.
"The response to our early defensive miscues was key," head coach Matt Riser said. "At the end of the day, when we had to make a play, we made the play. When we had to make a pitch, we made it. When he had to have an at-bat, we did it. That's the beauty of it. Guys are finding a way to overcome it. I think that's the important part."
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Blazers jumped out to an early lead in the top of the second after three Tiger errors in the inning led to a six-run frame for UAB with only two of the runs being earned.
• The Tigers clapped back with a big inning of their own in the bottom half of the inning, erupting for eight runs on a trio of home runs. Freshman Carter McKay slugged a towering two-run shot to right field before Justin Fogel added three more to the board with a three-run jack. After a double off the top of the wall by Shane Cox and Seth Cox was hit by a pitch, Chase Nixon came to the plate and mashed the third long ball of the inning to put Memphis in front, 8-6.
• The Blazers scratched across a run in the third and another in the fourth to tie the game up at eight runs apiece.
• Memphis regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI ground out by Fogel to make the score 9-8, Tigers.
• Creek Robertson clutched up for a two-out, two-run single through the left side of the infield in the bottom of the sixth, driving in Seth Cox and Jack Pitts to grow the Memphis lead to 11-8.
• Shane Cox clubbed a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning to add another insurance run to the Tigers' lead.
• A bases-loaded error by the Tigers in the top of the ninth inning made it a two-run game, but closer Brayden Sanders responded with three-straight strikeouts to slam the door on the Blazers and pick up his fourth save of the season as the Tigers clinched the series victory.
NOTABLES
• The three-home run inning for the Tigers in the bottom of the second marked the first-such frame since slugging three home runs in the third inning of a 14-4 win over Central Arkansas last season when the Tigers matched a program record with seven long balls.
• The two teams combined for 14 runs in the second inning alone.
• RHP Charlie Smith threw career-long 5.1 innings of relief and was highly effective. The junior allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits, striking out five and walking none. He earned the win and improved to 2-0 on the season while lowering his ERA to 4.12 (39.1 IP).
• Sanders earned his fourth save of the season with three strikeouts in the ninth (one walk, no hits).
• McKay, Fogel, Nixon and Shane Cox all homered to mark the fourth game this season the Tigers have slugged four-plus long balls. McKay and Fogel each slugged their third of the season. Nixon's blast was his seventh of the season while Cox's gave him the team lead with eight.
• Shane Cox, Seth Cox and Pitts all recorded two-hit games, each scoring a pair of runs.
• Fogel drove in four runs and Nixon drove in three – raising his season total to 28 to lead the squad.
• Robertson ended the game 1-for-3 with two RBI, two walks and a run scored.
• Freshman Michael Politte went 1-for-5 and scored a run. He's now hit safely in seven on the last eight games and extended his hitting streak to five games.
UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field tomorrow afternoon to try and complete the sweep of the Blazers. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Charlie (2-0)
L: Cole Cheatham (3-5)
S: Sanders, Brayden (4)
Batting:
2B: Camden Hayslip 1
RBI: Logan Braunschweig 1 ; Todd Clay 2 ; Andrew Hunt 1 ; Alex Cheeseman 1 ; Gavin Lewis Jr 1
SH: Alex Cheeseman 1
SF: Andrew Hunt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Logan Braunschweig 1 ; Wesley Helms 1 ; Andrew Hunt 2 ; Camden Hayslip 3 ; JP Head 1 ; Gavin Lewis Jr 2
Batting:
2B: Cox, Shane 1 ; Pitts, Jack 1
HR: Fogel, Justin 1 ; Cox, Shane 1 ; Nixon, Chase 1 ; McKay, Carter 1
RBI: Fogel, Justin 4 ; Cox, Shane 1 ; Nixon, Chase 3 ; McKay, Carter 2 ; Robertson, Creek 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Greer, Cade 1 ; Fogel, Justin 1 ; Cox, Shane 2 ; Cox, Seth 2 ; Nixon, Chase 1 ; Politte, Michael 1 ; Pitts, Jack 2 ; McKay, Carter 1 ; Robertson, Creek 1
HBP: Greer, Cade 1 ; Cox, Seth 1 ; Perez, Daniel 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
C/OF
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
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