Memphis Hosts Ohio State and Louisiana Tech for Grind City Classic

Friday, February 20

Memphis, Tenn.

5:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

Ohio State

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Memphis Hosts Ohio State and Louisiana Tech for Grind City Classic

Feb 19, 2026 | Baseball

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team welcomes in Ohio State and Louisiana Tech for the second edition of the Grind City Classic at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field this weekend, with five games scheduled between the three schools.

The tournament will get underway at 12:05 p.m. Friday, with Louisiana Tech facing Ohio State. Game two will begin at 5:05 p.m. Friday and will see the Tigers host the Buckeyes. On Saturday, Louisiana Tech plays a doubleheader, first against Memphis at 12:05 p.m. and then against Ohio State at 5:05 p.m. The final game of the tournament will come at 12:05 p.m. on Sunday, when Memphis and Ohio State will meet for a second time.

Memphis will face Ohio State for only the third time ever, with Ohio State winning the previous two matchups in 2000 and 2008. Memphis' all-time record with Louisiana Tech sits at 7-7 after the Tigers took two of three from the Bulldogs last season, including a 7-3 win in game three.

Memphis (2-2) is coming off a midweek, 12-11 loss to Little Rock in a game where the offenses shined. The teams combined for 23 runs, 31 hits and 10 home runs as the Trojans came out on top. Little Rock mashed five home runs in the first five innings, but Memphis fought back to tie the game in the sixth. A five-run seventh for the Trojans would seal the deal despite the Tigers' four runs in the final three innings.

The Tigers' four homers against Little Rock were the most in a game since hitting four against Arkansas State on April 22, 2025. All four home run hitters (Tyler Harrington, Michael Gupton, Seth Giamportone and James Smith IV) smashed their first homers of the season.

The Tigers have started the season 13-for-13 on stolen bases, with eight different players swiping at least one bag. Memphis ranks first in the American in stolen bases and 16^th in the nation.

Memphis has drawn 25 walks through its first four games, good for 57^th in the nation and fourth in the American. Javon Hernandez and Trae Cassidy lead the team with four apiece.

Ohio State (3-0) travels to Memphis after an opening series sweep over Saint Louis in Pensacola, Florida. While Louisiana Tech (4-1) will come to the 901 after sweeping a four-game series at home against Houston Christian but dropping a Wednesday midweek contest with McNeese.

Memphis will stick with the same rotation as last weekend, rolling out RHP Seth Garner (0-1, 10.80 ERA), RHP Will Howell (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and LHP David Case (1-0, 3.00 ERA). Sunday starter David Case was an honorable mention for American Conference Pitcher of the Week last week, recording the win and adding seven strikeouts in the Tigers game three victory.

On Friday, Ohio State will throw RHP Gavin Kuzniewski (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who went four innings of their 7-1 opening day win. Louisiana Tech will start LHP Hudson Rowan (1-0, 0.00 ERA). Rowan tossed five scoreless innings and only allowed a single hit against Houston Christian on Feb. 14. Ohio State's Sunday starter will be Pierce Herrenbruck (1-0, 4.50 ERA), who also pitched on Feb. 14, allowing two runs on three hits in four innings of work against Saint Louis.

Ohio State is led offensively by Lee Ellis (3 H / 1 3B / 5 R), CJ Reid (3 H / 1 2B / 4 RBI) and Miles Vandenheuvel (4 H / 2 RBI / 1 R). The Buckeyes rank 11^th in the nation in team ERA at 2.00.

Louisiana Tech's best offensive players thus far are Colby Lunsford (11 H / 4 HR / 9 RBI), Cade Patterson (4 H / 2 HR / 12 RBI) and Sebastian Mexico (7 H / 4 2B / 5 RBI). The Bulldogs rank 15^th in the nation in home runs with nine through five games.

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.