Tigers Face Missouri State in First Road Series of the Season

Friday, March 6

Springfield, Mo.

3:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

Missouri State

Tigers Face Missouri State in First Road Series of the Season

Mar 05, 2026 | Baseball

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (3-9) baseball team will head to Springfield, Mo. To take on Missouri State (7-5) for its first road series after a 7-1 loss at Ole Miss on Tuesday.

This will be the fourth all-time series between the two programs, with Missouri State leading the all-time series 7-5. The Tigers and Bears most recently met for a series in 2017, when Memphis traveled to Springfield in mid-March and took two of three. The Bears won game one of the series 9-5 before the Tigers fought back in games two and three, claiming one-run victories in both.

Memphis (3-9) is coming off a midweek loss in Oxford, falling 7-1 to the Rebels. The Tigers scored first in the game but ended the first inning down 2-1. The Rebels blasted three home runs in the game and shut down Memphis offensively to get out to a 7-1 lead that would hold final after nine innings.

The Tigers increased their stolen-base total to 28 on the season. Memphis ranks first in the American Conference in stolen bases and 37^th in the nation. Senior Freddy Rodriguez is 8-for-9 on stolen-base attempts this season and is tied for 36^th in the country.

Seven different Tigers have launched homers this season, combining for 14 as a team, good for fourth best in the American and 71^st nationally. Senior center fielder Michael Gupton and redshirt freshman left fielder Webb Watson are tied for the team lead with three long balls each.

Memphis has drawn 58 walks as a team this season, ranking 106^th nationally. Two Tigers are tied for the team lead with eight: Watson and graduate shortstop Javon Hernandez.

Infielder Shane Cox has been Memphis' top offensive performer to start the season. Cox leads the team in batting average (.408), hits (20), doubles (4), triples (1) and RBIs (11). Cox's 20 hits are tied for 42^nd in the nation, and he also has a hit in 11 of 12 games thus far.

Missouri State (7-5) swept Little Rock at home last weekend, and most recently suffered an 8-7 loss to Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Tuesday. The weekend before last they traveled down to Oxford, Mississippi, getting swept by Ole Miss by scores of 11-6, 6-3 and 3-2. Despite the five losses, the Bears rank sixth in the nation in RPI (Rating Percentage Index) as of Thursday.

The Tigers will make one change to their weekend rotation, with RHP Charlie Smith (0-1, 9.31 ERA) getting the start Friday. RHP Will Howell (0-2, 4.70 ERA) will take the mound Saturday, and LHP David Case (1-2, 4.60 ERA) is set to close out the weekend. The Bears will send out three righties: Michael Yusypchuk (1-1, 6.75 ERA), Brock Lucas (1-2, 8.68 ERA) and Owen Slater (1-1, 5.40 ERA). Friday starter Michael Yusypchuk was voted Missouri State Rookie of the Year last season, serving as their Friday starter for the majority of the season.

Missouri State is led offensively by Curry Sutherland (17 H / 4 HR / 14 RBI), Carter Bergman (1.101 OPS / 4 HR / 10 RBI) and Caden Bogenpohl (19 BB / .533 OB% / 9 RBI). Bogenpohl is second in the nation in walks while the Bears rank 23^rd in the nation in home runs with 20 this year.

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