Hernandez Goes Yard in Tigers 9-5 Loss at Murray State

Tuesday, April 28

Murray, Ky.

1:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

16-27

Murray State

27-18

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Memphis	0	0	1	0	1	1	2	0	0	5	6	2
Murray St.	0	3	0	3	1	2	0	0	X	9	9	1

Hernandez Goes Yard in Tigers 9-5 Loss at Murray State

Apr 28, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

MURRAY, Ky. – The University of Memphis (16-27, 8-10 American) baseball team fell to Murray State (27-18, 12-6 Missouri Valley), 9-5, on Tuesday afternoon at Johnny Reagan Field. The Tigers battled offensively throughout the game but were unable to overcome a pair of multi-run innings from the Racers.

Memphis tallied six hits on the day, including home runs from Javon Hernandez and Michael Gupton, while Hernandez led the Tigers with three RBI. Murray State used a three-run second inning and a three-run fourth inning to build an early cushion and never relinquished the lead.

Seth Impson (1-3) took the loss after allowing three runs over two innings of work. Memphis used six relievers out of the bullpen, combining for six strikeouts over the final six innings.

Memphis will return home for a weekend conference series with first-place East Carolina starting Friday at 6:05 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Murray State struck first with a three-run second inning, capitalizing on timely hitting and a Memphis error to take an early 3-0 lead.
The Tigers answered in the third when Jack Pitts scored on a double steal play with Freddy Rodriguez, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
The Racers extended their lead in the fourth with three more runs, including a two-run double and a sacrifice fly, pushing the score to 6-1.
Michael Gupton led off the fifth inning with a solo home run to make it 6-2.
Murray State responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning and added two more in the sixth to stretch the lead to 9-3.
Javon Hernandez hit a solo home run in the sixth before delivering a two-RBI triple in the seventh to bring Memphis within 9-5.
The Tigers were unable to complete the comeback, as Murray State held Memphis scoreless over the final two innings.

NOTABLES

Marcus Smith, Shane Cox and Jack Pitts all stole bases for the Tigers, bringing the team's season total to 100 steals, which ranks in the top 35 nationally and first in the conference.
- Memphis has now entered triple digits for stolen bases for only the sixth time in school history.
- Smith led the way with two steals, bringing his total to 5-for-5.
- Cox added his ninth swipe of the season while Pitts recorded his first stolen base of the year.
Shortstop Javon Hernandez led the Tigers offensively, going 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored on the day.
- Hit his second homer of the season in the sixth inning and has now homered in back-to-back midweek games, hitting his first home run at Mississippi State last Tuesday.
- Hernandez also recorded the team's sixth triple of the season and his first of the year, driving in two Memphis runs in the process.
- Tallied his 13^th multi-hit game and first game this season with at least three RBI.
Center fielder Michael Gupton went 2-for-4 at the dish with a homer and a run scored.
- Blasted his team-leading 12^th dinger in the fifth inning, putting him third in the American Conference in long balls.
- Also collected his 13^th multi-hit game thus far.
Jack Pitts started the game in left field and finished 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
- Pitts recorded his first double of the season early in the game, before coming around to score on a double-steal play.
- Of Pitts' 11 hits this season, four of them have been extra-base hits.

SCORING SUMMARY

Bottom 2:
Jake Slade walked, Kainen Jorge scored.
Jackson McCoy singled, Conner Cunningham scored.
Connor Chisolm hit a sacrifice fly, Kingsley Guthrie scored.
Memphis 0, Murray State 3

Top 3:
Freddy Rodriguez caught stealing, Jack Pitts stole home.
Memphis 1, Murray State 3

Bottom 4:
Colby Ott doubled, Kingsley Guthrie scored.
Connor Chisolm hit a sacrifice fly, Colby Ott scored.
Luke Mistone reached on an error, Jackson McCoy scored.
Memphis 1, Murray State 6

Top 5:
Michael Gupton homered.
Memphis 2, Murray State 6

Bottom 5:
Colby Ott singled, Connor Cunningham scored.
Memphis 2, Murray State 7

Top 6:
Javon Hernandez homered.
Memphis 3, Murray State 7

Bottom 6:
Luke Mistone reached on a fielder's choice, Jackson McCoy scored.
Conner Cunningham hit a sacrifice fly, Luke Mistone scored.
Memphis 3, Murray State 9

Top 7:
Javon Hernandez tripled, Gabe Boyd and Marcus Smith scored.
Memphis 5, Murray State 9

UP NEXT

Memphis returns home to begin its final homestand of the season when they face East Carolina this weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. on Friday.

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.