Memphis Out-hits Missouri State in 13-12 Loss

Sunday, March 8

Springfield, Mo.

1:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

3-12

Missouri State

10-5

Memphis

Missouri State

Mar 08, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The University of Memphis (3-12) baseball team suffered a 13-12 defeat to Missouri State (10-5) in the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon in Springfield, Mo.

Memphis claimed an early lead but gave up seven runs in the bottom of the first and found itself down 10-1 after the fifth inning. The Tigers fought back, scoring two in the sixth and putting up a six spot in the seventh to cut the lead to 10-9. The Bears scored three runs of their own in the seventh to go up 13-9. Memphis continued to claw back, adding two runs in the eighth and bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth before having their comeback attempt fall short, as Missouri State won 13-12.

The Tigers return home to Memphis for a pair of midweek games against Lipscomb and Arkansas-Pine Bluff at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field. First pitch against Lipscomb is scheduled for Tuesday at 4:05 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Memphis executed a double steal in the first inning, with Freddy Rodriguez stealing second and Javon Hernandez stealing home.
Missouri State wasted no time on offense, hitting two three-run homers in the bottom of the first and adding another run after a Jax Ryan RBI single.
The Bears extended their lead to 8-1 after a double steal of their own in the second inning.
Mo. State reached double digit runs in the fifth, plating two off a Jax Ryan double.
Center fielder Michael Gupton hit his second home run of the series, this time a two-run blast to left center that scored Webb Watson.
The Tigers had a big seventh inning, scoring six runs on three hits to cut the deficit to one. Gupton hit a two-RBI single, Watson scored on an error, Gupton scored and Rodriguez brought two Tiger runners home with a double.
Mo. State punched right back in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run and a two-RBI single.
Second baseman Jack Little resumed the Memphis comeback with a two-RBI single of his own in the eighth.
Memphis was down to its final out when first baseman Shane Cox came up clutch for the Tigers again, hitting a solo home run to left field, bringing Memphis within one.
Watson battled to a full count before flying out to center field to end the game as the Bears won 13-12.

NOTABLES

Javon Hernandez, Freddy Rodriguez, Shane Cox and Michael Gupton all stole a base for the Tigers, bringing the team's season total to 35 steals, which ranks in the top 40 nationally and first in the American.
Center fielder Michael Gupton had a stellar offensive series and added a home run and four more RBIs to his totals Sunday.
- His back-to-back four-RBI games are the first time a Tiger has done so since Hunter Goodman against Western Illinois on February 29 and March 1, 2020.
- Gupton's homer was his ninth extra-base hit of the season, the most by any Memphis batter.
- Has logged 18 RBI on the year, the most on the team.
- Saturday marked his fifth multi-RBI game of the season.
After three more hits Sunday, second baseman Shane Cox continued his streak of reaching base safely in every game thus far and continues his eight-game hitting streak.
- Cox leads the Tigers in batting average (.391), hits (25), doubles (6), and triples (1).
Third baseman Freddy Rodriguez went 3-for-6 on the day with a double and two RBI.
- Rodriguez boasts the second most hits on the team with 18.
- Also stole his ninth base of the year, a team high.
Second baseman Jack Little recorded hit first multi-hit game as a Tiger, going 2-for-4 at the plate and added a walk, a run scored and two RBIs.

SCORING SUMMARY

Top 1:
Freddy Rodriguez stole second, Javon Hernandez stole home.
Memphis 1, Missouri State 0

Bottom 1:
Curry Sutherland homered, Jax Ryan and Caden Bogenpohl scored.
Gabe Roessler homered, Logan Fyffe and Jackson Beaman scored.
Jax Ryan singled, Charlie Carter scored.
Memphis 1, Missouri State 7

Bottom 2:
Logan Fyffe stole second, Taeg Gollert stole home.
Memphis 1, Missouri State 8

Bottom 5:
Jax Ryan doubled, Jackson Beaman and Charlie Carter scored.
Memphis 1, Missouri State 10

Top 6:
Michael Gupton homered, Webb Watson scored.
Memphis 3, Missouri State 10

Top 7:
Michael Gupton singled, James Smith IV and Shane Cox scored.
Michael Gupton stole second, Webb Watson scored on a throwing error.
Javon Hernandez hit by pitch, Michale Gupton scored.
Freddy Rodriguez doubled, Jack Little and Parker Price scored.
Memphis 9, Missouri State 10

Bottom 7:
Charlie Carter homered.
Taeg Gollert singled, Jax Ryan and Curry Sutherland scored
Memphis 9, Missouri State 13

Top 8:
Jack Little singled, Shane Cox and Michael Gupton scored
Memphis 11, Missouri State 13

Top 9:
Shane Cox homered
Memphis 12, Missouri State 13

UP NEXT

Memphis will head home for a pair of midweek games against Lipscomb and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. First pitch against Lipscomb is set for 4:05 p.m. Tuesday.

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.