Tigers Close Grind City Classic with Defeat to Ohio State

Sunday, February 22

Memphis, Tenn.

12:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

2-5

Ohio State

5-2

Ohio State

Memphis

Tigers Close Grind City Classic with Defeat to Ohio State

Feb 22, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (2-5) baseball team suffered an 8-2 defeat to Ohio State in its third and final game of the Grind City Classic on Sunday afternoon.

Memphis claimed an early 2-0 lead after the first two innings, but those would be the only runs of the day for the Tigers as the Buckeyes' pitching staff dominated. Offensively, Ohio State scored at least one run in five straight innings to build an 8-2 lead that proved final.

The Tigers will head to Little Rock, Arkansas, for a 3:05 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday for a midweek battle against the Trojans.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Starting LHP David Case opened the game with confidence, striking out the side in the top of the first.
Memphis got on the board first when designated hitter Brady McAbee drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Javon Hernandez.
Center fielder Michael Gupton doubled the lead for the Tigers in the second inning after reaching on an error, stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch, all before Hernandez brought him home with a ground out.
Ohio State cut the lead in half in the top of third on a two-run home run to right field by Lee Ellis.
The Buckeyes scored two more and tied the game in the fourth, thanks to RBI base hits by Maddx Simpson and Miles Vandenheuvel.
Noah Furcht went yard for Ohio State in the fifth, giving them a 5-2 lead.
Ohio State got two runners in scoring position with only one out in the sixth, leading to runs scored on a sacrifice bunt and a double.
For a fifth straight inning, the Buckeyes plated a runner, this time after a fielder's choice hit by Maddix Simpson.
Carson Fair came in to finish the game for Memphis, striking out two of the three batters he faced.

NOTABLES

Freddy Rodriguez and Michael Gupton stole bases for the Tigers, bringing the team's season total to 20 steals, which ranks in the top 20 nationally and first in the American. Rodriguez is a perfect 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts this season and stole a base in every game this weekend.
RHP Carson Fair continues to be a bright spot in the Tigers bullpen, striking out two batters after coming in for the ninth inning. Fair has now allowed only one hit in 2.2 innings of work, while recording a win and a save for Memphis.
The top of the batting order has been solid for Memphis with Javon Hernandez, Freddy Rodriguez, James Smith IV and Shane Cox all reaching base safely at least once in every contest thus far.
After drawing seven walks today, Memphis has 40 total walks on the season, compared to 32 by its opponents.
The Tigers have scored first in four of the seven games thus far this season and are 1-3 in those games.
Five of Ohio State's eight runs came with two outs in the inning. The Tigers have allowed 56 runs so far this season, 31 of which came with two outs.
Memphis walked 11 batters; the most walks allowed in a game since May 17, 2024, when they allowed 13 to Wichita State.

SCORING SUMMARY

Bottom 1:
Brady McAbee walked, Javon Hernandez scored.
Memphis 1, Ohio State 0

Bottom 2:
Javon Hernandez grounded out, Michael Gupton scored.
Memphis 2, Ohio State 0

Top 3:
Lee Ellis homered, Alex Bemis scored.
Memphis 2, Ohio State 2

Top 4:
Maddix Simpson doubled, Steven Cavaco scored.
Miles Vandenheuvel singled, Maddix Simpson scored on play and a fielding error.
Memphis 2, Ohio State 4

Top 5:
Noah Furcht homered.
Memphis 2, Ohio State 5

Top 6:
Miles Vandenheuvel hit a sacrifice bunt, Steven Cavaco scored.
Lee Ellis doubled, Jacob Parr scored.
Memphis 2, Ohio State 7

Top 7:
Maddix Simpson reached on a fielder's choice, Grant Mangrum scored.
Memphis 2, Ohio State 8

UP NEXT

Memphis will hit the road for the first time this season on Tuesday at 3:05 p.m. in Little Rock, Arkansas, to take on the Trojans for the second time this year.

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.