Memphis Begins American Conference Tournament Quest Against Charlotte

Wednesday, May 20

Clearwater, Fla.

47 minutes following Game 1

University of Memphis

Charlotte

Memphis Begins American Conference Tournament Quest Against Charlotte

May 19, 2026 | Baseball

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (22-32, 13-14 American) baseball team will open its 2026 American Conference Tournament campaign on Wednesday against Charlotte. First pitch is scheduled for 47 minutes following game one, which starts at 12 p.m. central time.

Wednesday's game serves as a single-elimination opener, with the winner advancing to the double-elimination bracket to face No. 4 UAB on Thursday.

Memphis is set to make its ninth appearance in the American Conference Championship and first since the 2023 season. The Tigers own an 11-14 all-time record in American Conference Tournament play and have reached the semifinals twice, advancing that far in 2015 and 2016. This year, Memphis earned the No. 5 seed, tied for the highest in its American Conference history, and will begin postseason play against No. 8 Charlotte after the 49ers took two of three games in last weekend's series.

Memphis has put constant pressure on opposing defenses all season, totaling 124 stolen bases to record the second-most steals in a single season in program history. The Tigers lead the American Conference on the basepaths and rank 25th nationally. Senior Freddy Rodriguez has led the charge, going 43-for-48 in stolen base attempts to top the conference and sit second in the country. Rodriguez added his name to the record book on May 12 at Middle Tennessee, swiping three bags to break Memphis' single-season stolen base record.

Memphis has consistently flashed the glove this season, posting a .973 fielding percentage that sits 106^th in the nation. The Tigers have made only 51 errors on the year, marking the third-lowest total in program history.

Power has come from throughout the Memphis lineup this season, with 14 Tigers recording at least one home run and the team combining for 63 total homers. Michael Gupton has led the charge with 13 home runs, the third-highest mark in the American Conference, while James Smith IV has added 11 of his own to sit tied for seventh in the league.

Charlotte (28-27, 12-15 American) comes into Wednesday claiming the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament. The 49ers clinched a berth last weekend after taking two of three from Memphis. Memphis opened the weekend with a tournament-clinching victory of its own, using six scoreless innings from Will Howell and a five-run seventh inning to pull away. In game two, the Tigers carried a one-run lead into the sixth before Charlotte used a six-run seventh inning to even the series. Memphis then built a late lead in the finale after overcoming an early deficit, but the 49ers scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to secure a walk-off win and take the series.

On the mound, the Tigers will roll out RHP Will Howell (5-6, 6.82 ERA), who shut down Charlotte last Thursday, pitching six innings, allowing two hits and no runs. The 49ers will counter with RHP Eddie Copper (4-4, 4.98 ERA), who started game two of last weekend's series and finished with 5.2 innings pitched, two hits and one run.

At the plate, Charlotte has been led by Dylan Koontz (.288 AVG / 11 HR / 51 RBI), Alec DeMartino (.337 AVG / 12 HR / 52 RBI), and Cody Gunderson (.336 AVG / 16 2B / 38 RBI). As a team, the 49ers rank 33^rd in the nation in hits (553), 57^th in batting average (.297) and 87^th in home runs (64).

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.