Tigers Trot Down to Texas for Series Against Rice

Friday, April 17

Houston, Texas

6:35 p.m.

University of Memphis

Rice

Apr 16, 2026 | Baseball

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (12-23, 4-8 American) baseball team will head to Houston, Texas for a conference series with Rice (24-14, 7-5 American) beginning Friday at 6:35 p.m.

Rice holds a 24-13 edge in the all-time series against Memphis. This weekend will mark the 12th time the two programs have met in a series. A year ago, the Tigers hosted the Owls at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field, dropping the first two games by scores of 10-5 and 9-5 before salvaging the finale with a 13-2 run-rule victory. In their most recent trip to Houston, Memphis swept the series with wins of 4-3, 5-4 and 2-1.

Memphis (12-23, 4-8 American) rides back-to-back wins into the weekend series after winning the final game of its series with Florida Atlantic and defeating Mississippi Valley State in the midweek. In Tuesday's game, Memphis scored in five separate innings, finishing with 11 runs on 13 hits, while limiting MVSU to three runs on seven hits.

Memphis has been aggressive on the basepaths all season, swiping 87 bases to lead the American Conference and rank 25th nationally. Senior Freddy Rodriguez has led the effort, going 29-for-32 in stolen base attempts, a total that leads the American Conference and ranks third in the country.

Thirteen Tigers have recorded home runs this season, combining for 38 as a team. Senior center fielder Michael Gupton added another on Tuesday and leads the group with 10 long balls, ranking fourth in the conference, while his .602 slugging percentage sits sixth in the American.

Rice (24-14, 7-5 American) currently holds the longest win streak in the American, coming out on top in their last five games, including a sweep of conference foe Charlotte last weekend. In the series opener, Rice raced out to a 6-0 advantage before Charlotte cut the deficit to two, but the Owls held on for the win. In game two, Rice plated runs in five of the first six innings to secure a 6-2 victory and clinch the series. In the finale, the Owls completed the program's first conference sweep since 2024.

On the mound, the Tigers will maintain their rotation, sending out RHP Will Howell (3-5, 7.49 ERA) on Friday, LHP David Case (2-6, 6.04 ERA) for Saturday's game while leaving Sunday open to be determined later. The Owls will counter with Tennessee transfer RHP Tanner Wiggins (2-1, 3.48 ERA), RHP Ethan Sanders (2-4, 3.96 ERA) and RHP Ryland Urbanczyk (3-2, 2.48 ERA).

At the plate, Rice has been led by Paul Smith (8 HR / 31 RBI / 23 BB), Cole Green (44 H / 11 2B / 19 RBI) and JC Davis (.331 AVG / 42 H / 19 RBI). As a team, the Owls find their strength in pitching, ranking 50^th in the nation in ERA (4.55) and 77^th in WHIP (1.46).

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