Memphis Falls to Louisiana Tech, 8-5

Saturday, February 21

Memphis, Tenn.

12:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

2-4

Louisiana Tech

6-1

Louisiana Tech

Memphis

Feb 21, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team fell to Louisiana Tech, 8-5, on Saturday in game two of the Grind City Classic.

Tigers starter Will Howell pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits as the game entered the seventh inning with Louisiana Tech leading 1-0. The teams combined for 12 runs in the last three innings, including a six-spot from the Bulldogs in the top of the eighth to take an 8-1 lead. The Tigers fought back with four runs of their own in the eighth, but Luke Nichols shut the door for the Bulldogs as they claimed an 8-5 win.

The Tigers will wrap up the Grind City Classic at 12:05 p.m. Sunday against Ohio State at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Memphis got through the first three innings without allowing a run and turned its fourth and fifth double plays of the season.
Louisiana Tech got on the scoreboard first after Cade Patterson reached on a fielder's choice to third base that scored Trey Hawsey.
The Bulldogs doubled their lead in the top of the seventh when Eli Berch hit a leadoff double and eventually scored on a passed ball.
Right fielder James Smith IV struck back for the Tigers with his second homer of the season to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Tigers stumbled in the eighth inning, allowing six runs on five hits. Five of the runs came after Memphis recorded two outs.
Memphis put up numbers of their own in the eighth, starting with center fielder Michael Gupton's second home run of the season.
Catcher Trae Cassidy scored on a throwing error and Shane Cox knocked in the Tigers' fourth run of the inning to cut the lead to three for the Bulldogs.
Louisiana Tech went three up, three down in the top of the ninth, but Luke Nichols recorded the save after getting a 5-4-3 double play and striking out the last Memphis batter of the game.

NOTABLES

With five more runs today, Memphis has scored five or more runs in every game to start the season for the first time since 1991, when they scored five or more runs in each of their first 15 games.
Freddy Rodriguez and Shane Cox stole bases for the Tigers, bringing the team's season total to 18 steals, which ranks in the top 20 nationally and first in the American. Rodriguez is a perfect 4-4 on stolen base attempts this season.
Cox had another good day at the plate, going 3-4 and collecting his eighth RBI of the season. His 12 hits and .444 batting average lead the Tigers after six games. Cox maintains his streak of one or more hits in every game thus far.
First baseman Tyler Harrington logged his first multi-hit game this season going 2-4. The graduate from Lakeland, Tennessee leads the Tigers in slugging percentage at .636.
Outfielders Michael Gupton and James Smith IV both hit their second long balls of the season. The duo drove in three of the Tigers five runs.
After throwing 4.1 innings and allowing no runs last Saturday, RHP Will Howell delivered another solid start, recording six innings and allowing just one run on four hits with four strikeouts to lower his ERA to 0.87. His six innings are his longest appearance for the Tigers, and his four strikeouts matched a career high.

SCORING SUMMARY

Top 4:
Cade Patterson reached on a fielder's choice, Trey Hawsey scored.
Memphis 0, Louisiana Tech 1

Top 7:
Eli Berch scored on a passed ball.
Memphis 0, Louisiana Tech 2

Bottom 7:
James Smith IV homered.
Memphis 1, Louisiana Tech 2

Top 8:
Trey Hawsey singled, Casey McCoy scored.
Cade Patterson doubled, Trey Hawsey and Colby Lunsford scored.
Wesley Scott homered, Sebastian Mexico and Cade Patterson scored.
Memphis 1, Louisiana Tech 8

Bottom 8:
Michael Gupton homered, Gabe Boyd scored.
Freddy Rodriguez advanced to second on an error, Trae Cassidy scored.
Shane Cox singled, Freddy Rodriguez scored.
Memphis 5, Louisiana Tech 8

UP NEXT

The Tigers return to FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field on Sunday at 12:05 p.m. for their third and final game of the Grind City Classic against Ohio State.

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.