University of Memphis Athletics
Sunday, March 15
Memphis, Tenn.
12:05 p.m.
University of Memphis
5-14
14
vs
25
Eastern Illinois
8-8
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Eastern Illinois
0
4
1
9
1
1
0
6
3
25
19
1
Memphis
0
0
4
4
2
4
0
0
0
14
21
2
Tigers Drop Wild 25-14 Slugfest to Eastern Illinois
Mar 15, 2026 | Baseball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (5-14) baseball team dropped the series finale to Eastern Illinois (8-8) by a score of 25-14 on Sunday afternoon at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field.
The two teams combined for 39 runs and 40 hits in the offensive battle, with Memphis collecting 21 hits but unable to keep pace with Eastern Illinois' 25-run output. The Panthers plated runs in seven different innings and used a nine-run fourth inning to break the game open.
James Smith IV led the Tigers offensively, going 3-for-6 with a home run and six RBIs, while Michael Gupton, Javon Hernandez and Trae Cassidy each recorded at least three hits. Jack Little also homered for Memphis as the Tigers produced runs in four different innings.
Eastern Illinois reliever Jarrett Kinder earned the win after throwing four scoreless innings to close the game. Memphis starter Seth Garner suffered the loss after allowing five runs in 2.1 innings of work.
Memphis will open conference play next weekend when they travel to Tulane. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. in New Orleans, Louisiana.
HOW IT HAPPENED
NOTABLES
SCORING SUMMARY
Top 2:
Mike O'Conor homered, Ethan Rossi scored.
Chris Worcester doubled, Luke Melton scored.
Kyree Alexander singled, Chris Worcester scored.
Memphis 0, Eastern Illinois 4
Top 3:
Brett Stanley walked, Ethan Rossi scored.
Memphis 0, Eastern Illinois 5
Bottom 3:
James Smith IV homered, Javon Hernandez and Trae Cassidy scored.
Tyler Harrington singled, Shane Cox scored.
Memphis 4, Eastern Illinois 5
Top 4:
Ethan Rossi singled, Kyree Alexander scored and James Love scored on an error.
Mike O'Conor singled, Peyton Wilson scored.
Tyler Castro walked, Ethan Rossi scored.
Mike O'Conor scored on a wild pitch.
Brett Stanley grounded out, Luke Melton scored.
Tyler Castro scored on a wild pitch.
Ethan Rossi walked, Kyree Alexander scored.
James Love scored on a wild pitch.
Memphis 4, Eastern Illinois 14
Bottom 4:
Trae Cassidy hit a sacrifice fly, Jack Little scored.
James Smith IV doubled, Javon Hernandez and Freddy Rodriguez scored.
Michael Gupton doubled, James Smith IV scored.
Memphis 8, Eastern Illinois 14
Top 5:
Chris Worcester singled, Luke Melton scored.
Memphis 8, Eastern Illinois 15
Bottom 5:
Jack Little homered.
James Smith IV singled, Javon Hernandez scored.
Memphis 10, Eastern Illinois 15
Top 6:
Peyton Wilson homered.
Memphis 10, Eastern Illinois 16
Bottom 6:
Cade Hitson tripled, Michael Gupton and Tyler Harrington scored.
Freddy Rodriguez grounded into a double play, Cade Hitson scored.
Trae Cassidy doubled, Jack Little scored.
Memphis 14, Eastern Illinois 16
Top 8:
Ethan Rossi singled, James Love scored.
Ethan Rossi scored on a wild pitch.
Luke Melton reached on a fielder's choice, Mike O'Conor scored.
Chris Worcester homered, Luke Melton and Brett Stanley scored.
Memphis 14, Eastern Illinois 22
Top 9:
Luke Melton doubled, James Love and Ethan Rossi scored.
Tyler Castro singled, Luke Melton scored.
Memphis 14, Eastern Illinois 25
UP NEXT
Memphis will travel to Tulane to open American Conference play next weekend. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. Friday (Mar. 20) and Saturday (Mar. 21), with Sunday's first pitch slated 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 two teams combined for 39 runs and 40 hits in the offensive battle, with Memphis collecting 21 hits but unable to keep pace with Eastern Illinois' 25-run output. The Panthers plated runs in seven different innings and used a nine-run fourth inning to break the game open.
James Smith IV led the Tigers offensively, going 3-for-6 with a home run and six RBIs, while Michael Gupton, Javon Hernandez and Trae Cassidy each recorded at least three hits. Jack Little also homered for Memphis as the Tigers produced runs in four different innings.
Eastern Illinois reliever Jarrett Kinder earned the win after throwing four scoreless innings to close the game. Memphis starter Seth Garner suffered the loss after allowing five runs in 2.1 innings of work.
Memphis will open conference play next weekend when they travel to Tulane. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. in New Orleans, Louisiana.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Eastern Illinois opened the scoring in the second inning when Mike O'Conor launched a two-run home run to left field. RBI hits from Chris Worcester and Kyree Alexander extended the Panthers' lead to 4-0.
- The Panthers added another run in the third on a bases-loaded walk before Memphis responded in the bottom half of the inning. Designated hitter James Smith IV blasted a three-run homer to left field, and first baseman Tyler Harrington later added an RBI single to cut the deficit to 5-4.
- Eastern Illinois erupted for nine runs in the fourth inning, taking advantage of walks, wild pitches and multiple hits to stretch the lead to 14-4.
- Memphis answered with four runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. Smith IV doubled home two runs and center fielder Michael Gupton added an RBI double to trim the margin to 14-8.
- Left fielder Jack Little led off the fifth inning with a solo home run, and Smith IV added an RBI single later in the frame to pull Memphis within 15-10.
- The Tigers continued to rally in the sixth. Right fielder Cade Hitson delivered a two-run triple and catcher Trae Cassidy followed with an RBI double to cut the deficit to 16-14.
- Eastern Illinois regained control late in the game, scoring six runs in the eighth inning highlighted by a three-run homer from Chris Worcester.
- The Panthers added three more runs in the ninth inning, including a two-run double by Luke Melton, to secure the 25-14 victory.
NOTABLES
- James Smith IV went 3-for-6 with six RBIs, including a three-run homer and a double.
- Smith finished the series 9-for-15 with 16 RBIs.
- Hit his fifth homer of the season and third of the series, bringing his total to five on the year (2nd most on the team).
- Now has 10 extra-base hits on the year.
- Recorded his sixth multi-hit game this season.
- Extended his seven-game hitting streak.
- 21 hits are the most in a game for the Tigers since logging 23 against Western Illinois on March 1, 2020.
- All nine starters for the Tigers recorded at least one hit for the first time since April 6, 2019, against Southern.
- Center fielder Michael Gupton finished the day 4-for-4 at the plate with a double.
- Gupton is the first player since Shane Cox at Arkansas State on March 11, 2025, to record four hits in a game for Memphis.
- His four hits bring his season total to 21 and mark a Memphis career high.
- Jack Little got his first start at left field and finished the day 2-for-5 and his second home run of the season.
- Right fielder Cade Hitson hit a two-RBI triple on Sunday.
- The triple is Memphis' third of the season.
- Hitson has recorded a hit in all five games he has played in thus far.
- Shortstop Javon Hernandez batted ninth and went 3-for-3 with a double, two walks and three runs scored.
- The Tigers' usual leadoff hitter, Hernandez batted ninth for just the second time this season.
- After a double and a single on Sunday, second baseman Shane Cox continued his streak of reaching base safely in every game thus far.
- Cox has recorded at least one hit in 17 of 19 games this season.
- Cox leads the Tigers in batting average (.382), hits (29), doubles (8), and extra-base hits (11).
- Memphis shortstop Michael Politte entered the game as a pitcher in the ninth inning due to a depleted Tiger bullpen.
- Politte finished the game for Memphis on the mound, recording two outs, allowing one run on two hits and struck out the first batter he faced.
SCORING SUMMARY
Top 2:
Mike O'Conor homered, Ethan Rossi scored.
Chris Worcester doubled, Luke Melton scored.
Kyree Alexander singled, Chris Worcester scored.
Memphis 0, Eastern Illinois 4
Top 3:
Brett Stanley walked, Ethan Rossi scored.
Memphis 0, Eastern Illinois 5
Bottom 3:
James Smith IV homered, Javon Hernandez and Trae Cassidy scored.
Tyler Harrington singled, Shane Cox scored.
Memphis 4, Eastern Illinois 5
Top 4:
Ethan Rossi singled, Kyree Alexander scored and James Love scored on an error.
Mike O'Conor singled, Peyton Wilson scored.
Tyler Castro walked, Ethan Rossi scored.
Mike O'Conor scored on a wild pitch.
Brett Stanley grounded out, Luke Melton scored.
Tyler Castro scored on a wild pitch.
Ethan Rossi walked, Kyree Alexander scored.
James Love scored on a wild pitch.
Memphis 4, Eastern Illinois 14
Bottom 4:
Trae Cassidy hit a sacrifice fly, Jack Little scored.
James Smith IV doubled, Javon Hernandez and Freddy Rodriguez scored.
Michael Gupton doubled, James Smith IV scored.
Memphis 8, Eastern Illinois 14
Top 5:
Chris Worcester singled, Luke Melton scored.
Memphis 8, Eastern Illinois 15
Bottom 5:
Jack Little homered.
James Smith IV singled, Javon Hernandez scored.
Memphis 10, Eastern Illinois 15
Top 6:
Peyton Wilson homered.
Memphis 10, Eastern Illinois 16
Bottom 6:
Cade Hitson tripled, Michael Gupton and Tyler Harrington scored.
Freddy Rodriguez grounded into a double play, Cade Hitson scored.
Trae Cassidy doubled, Jack Little scored.
Memphis 14, Eastern Illinois 16
Top 8:
Ethan Rossi singled, James Love scored.
Ethan Rossi scored on a wild pitch.
Luke Melton reached on a fielder's choice, Mike O'Conor scored.
Chris Worcester homered, Luke Melton and Brett Stanley scored.
Memphis 14, Eastern Illinois 22
Top 9:
Luke Melton doubled, James Love and Ethan Rossi scored.
Tyler Castro singled, Luke Melton scored.
Memphis 14, Eastern Illinois 25
UP NEXT
Memphis will travel to Tulane to open American Conference play next weekend. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. Friday (Mar. 20) and Saturday (Mar. 21), with Sunday's first pitch slated 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: Kinder, Jarrett (1-0)
L: Garner, Seth (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Melton, Luke 2 ; O'Conor, Mike 1 ; Worcester, Chris 1 ; Love, James 1
3B: O'Conor, Mike 1
HR: Wilson, Peyton 1 ; O'Conor, Mike 1 ; Worcester, Chris 1
RBI: Alexander, Kyree 1 ; Stanley, Brett 2 ; Wilson, Peyton 1 ; Castro, Tyler 2 ; Melton, Luke 3 ; O'Conor, Mike 3 ; Rossi, Ethan 3 ; Worcester, Chris 5
SH: Wilson, Peyton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alexander, Kyree 2 ; Stanley, Brett 1 ; Wilson, Peyton 2 ; Castro, Tyler 1 ; Melton, Luke 5 ; O'Conor, Mike 3 ; Rossi, Ethan 5 ; Worcester, Chris 2 ; Love, James 4
HBP: Stanley, Brett 1 ; Wilson, Peyton 1 ; Rossi, Ethan 1 ; Worcester, Chris 1
Batting:
2B: Gupton, Michael 1 ; Cox, Shane 1 ; Hernandez, Javon 2 ; Cassidy, Trae 1 ; Smith IV, James 1
3B: Hitson, Cade 1
HR: Little, Jack 1 ; Smith IV, James 1
RBI: Gupton, Michael 1 ; Cassidy, Trae 2 ; Harrington, Tyler 1 ; Little, Jack 1 ; Hitson, Cade 2 ; Smith IV, James 6
SH: Harrington, Tyler 1
SF: Cassidy, Trae 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gupton, Michael 1 ; Cox, Shane 1 ; Hernandez, Javon 3 ; Rodriguez, Freddy 1 ; Cassidy, Trae 1 ; Harrington, Tyler 1 ; Little, Jack 3 ; Hitson, Cade 1 ; Smith IV, James 2
SB: Little, Jack 1
CS: Rodriguez, Freddy 1
HBP: Gupton, Michael 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
4
RBI
1
AB
3
R
3
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
2
AB
6
R
2
H
3
RBI
6
Players Mentioned
C
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INF
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INF
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