Gupton Homers in Game One Defeat to Missouri State

Friday, March 6

Springfield, Mo.

1:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

3-10

Missouri State

8-5

Memphis

Missouri State

Mar 06, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The University of Memphis (3-10) baseball team fell 12-5 to Missouri State (8-5) in game one of the series on Friday afternoon.

The Bears jumped out to an early lead with a leadoff home run and added another run via a sacrifice fly. The Tigers tied up the game in the third, scoring two runs of their own, including center fielder Michael Gupton's fourth home run of the season. Missouri State responded with at least one run in the next five innings, hitting five homers in the process. Memphis added three runs late in the game but could not overcome the Missouri State lead as the Bears took game one 12-5.

The Tigers will return to Hammons Field for game two against Missouri State tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Jax Ryan hit a leadoff home run for the Bears and Taeg Gollert hit a sacrifice fly to center field later in the inning that scored Caden Bogenpohl to give Missouri State a 2-0 lead.
In the third inning, Tiger center fielder Michael Gupton hit a leadoff homer of his own to cut the Mo. State lead in half. Third baseman Freddy Rodriguez followed with a double to left center and was eventually brough home by a James Smith IV single to tie the game 2-2.
The Bears reclaimed the lead soon after in the bottom of the inning when Curry Sutherland homered to left center.
Mo. State extended its lead to 5-2 in the fourth, getting the first two batters on base and scoring one on a Max Knight single. Carter Bergman scored later in the inning on a wild pitch.
Bobby Atkinson and Max Knight both homered in the fifth for the Bears as they extended their lead again to 9-2.
Memphis threatened in the sixth inning, getting the first two batters on before Tyler Harrington grounded into a double play. The Tigers did plate a run in the inning after a Trae Cassidy double brought in Webb Watson.
The Bears hit another home run in the sixth, this time a Charlie Carter solo shot.
Smith collected another RBI in the seventh, doubling to center field and scoring Rodriguez.
Mo. State hit its sixth and final homer in the seventh, this time off the bat of Taeg Gollert. Bobby Atkinson scored later in the inning off a Max Knight sacrifice fly.
The Tigers scored the final run of the game in the eighth, Gupton collected his second RBI and scored Kyle Mabie on the play. Mabie later struck out in the ninth to end the game as the Bears secured a 12-5 victory.

NOTABLES

Shane Cox and Javon Hernandez stole bases for the Tigers, bringing the team's season total to 30 steals, which ranks in the top 40 nationally and first in the American. Hernandez is 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts this season
Center fielder Michael Gupton demolished a home run to left field in the third inning to score the first run of the game for the Tigers.
- The homer was Gupton's fourth of the season – the most by any Tiger.
- Gupton collected an RBI single later in the game to secure his third multi-hit game and second game multi-RBI game this year.
Right fielder James Smith IV had a two-hit and two- RBI game for the Tigers.
- Friday was also Smith's third multi-hit game of the season and the second time he has collected multiple RBIs this season.
After a double today, second baseman Shane Cox continued his streak of reaching base safely in every game thus far.
- Cox leads the Tigers in batting average (.389), hits (21), doubles (5), triples (1) and RBI (11).
Left fielder Webb Watson and shortstop Javon Hernandez both recorded their tenth hits of the season.

SCORING SUMMARY

Bottom 1:
Jax Ryan homered.
Taeg Gollert hit a sacrifice fly, Caden Bogenpohl scored.
Memphis 0, Missouri State 2

Top 3:
Michael Gupton homered.
James Smith IV singled, Javon Hernandez scored.
Memphis 2, Missouri State 2

Bottom 3:
Curry Sutherland homered, Caden Bogenpohl scored.
Memphis 2, Missouri State 4

Bottom 4:
Max Knight singled, Bobby Atkinson scored.
Carter Bergman scored on a wild pitch.
Memphis 2, Missouri State 6

Bottom 5:
Bobby Atkinson homered, Taeg Gollert scored.
Max Knight homered.
Memphis 2, Missouri State 9

Top 6:
Trae Cassidy doubled, Webb Watson scored.
Memphis 3, Missouri State 9

Bottom 6:
Charlie Carter homered.
Memphis 3, Missouri State 10

Top 7:
James Smith IV doubled, Freddy Rodriguez scored.
Memphis 4, Missouri State 10

Bottom 7:
Taeg Gollert homered.
Max Knight hit a sacrifice fly, Bobby Atkinson scored.
Memphis 4, Missouri State 12

Top 8:
Michael Gupton doubled, Kyle Mabie scored.
Memphis 5, Missouri State 12

UP NEXT

Memphis will be back tomorrow for game two against Missouri State. First pitch is set for 2:05 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.