Case, Bullpen Combine to Lift Tigers Past East Carolina, 5-3

Saturday, May 2

Memphis, Tenn.

4:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

17-28, 9-11

East Carolina

29-18-1, 13-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
East Carolina	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	3	7	0
Memphis	1	0	1	0	0	3	0	0	X	5	9	2

Case, Bullpen Combine to Lift Tigers Past East Carolina, 5-3

May 02, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (17-28, 9-11 American) baseball team earned a 5-3 victory over East Carolina (29-18-1, 13-7 American) on Saturday afternoon at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field. The Tigers used a pivotal three-run sixth inning and strong pitching down the stretch to secure the conference win.

Memphis tallied nine hits on the day, with contributions throughout the lineup, while the pitching staff combined for 10 strikeouts. After East Carolina erased an early deficit with a three-run fifth, the Tigers responded immediately and held the Pirates scoreless over the final four innings to seal the win.

David Case (5-6) earned the win after tossing six innings and allowing three runs, just one earned, while striking out six. Caden Robinson provided 1.2 innings of scoreless relief before Carson Fair shut the door, recording the final four outs for his ninth save of the season.

Memphis and East Carolina will face off in the pivotal rubber match tomorrow at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Memphis struck first in the opening inning as Javon Hernandez launched a solo home run to right field to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers added another run in the third when James Smith IV delivered an RBI single to score Hernandez, extending the lead to 2-0.
East Carolina responded in the fifth inning, capitalizing on two Memphis errors to plate three runs and take a 3-2 advantage.
Memphis answered in the bottom half of the sixth, stringing together five hits. Tyler Harrington drove in one with a single before Shane Cox delivered a two-RBI single to put the Tigers back in front, 5-3.
The Memphis bullpen took over from there, allowing just two hits over the final three innings while keeping the Pirates off the scoreboard.

NOTABLES

Javon Hernandez stole a base for the Tigers, bringing the team's season total to 102 steals, which ranks in the top 30 nationally and first in the conference.
- The 102 steals are the fifth-most in a single season in school history.
- Hernandez added to his perfect record on the season, now 21-for-21 on stolen base attempts.
- His 21 steals are third most in the American.
The Memphis pitching staff dominated the East Carolina batting order, allowing just one earned run on the day.
- Starter David Case went 6.0 innings, allowed five hits and only one earned run while striking out six.
  - Saturday marked Case's sixth straight appearance with 6.0 innings pitched and his fifth quality start in those games. Case has a 4-2 record in that stretch.
- First out of the bullpen was senior Caden Robinson who provided his third scoreless outing this season.
  - Robinson allowed two hits and no runs in 1.2 innings of work, adding a season-high three strikeouts.
- The Tigers turned to closer Carson Fair to collect the last four outs of the win
  - Fair hit the first batter of the ninth before picking up a huge double play to clear the bases and capped off his ninth save of the season with a strikeout.
  - His nine saves are the most in the American Conference and tied for 11^th in the nation.
  - With his save tonight Fair moves into fifth place on the all-time single season save list in Memphis history.
Second baseman Shane Cox had the biggest hit of the night for the Tigers, a two-RBI single with the bases loaded in the sixth to put Memphis up 5-3.
- Cox came through once again, claiming his eighth multi-RBI performance of the year.
Shortstop Javon Hernandez got the party started in the first inning, hitting an opposite-field home run in his first at-bat.
- The homer was his third of the season, all coming in the Tigers last seven games.
Left fielder James Smith IV went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Smith IV collected his 40^th hit and 41^st RBI of the season.
- He now totals nine multi-hit games thus far.
First baseman Tyler Harrington also finished the day 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Harrington now has 11 multi-hit games this season and earned his 20^th RBI.

SCORING SUMMARY

Bottom 1:
Javon Hernandez homered.
Memphis 1, East Carolina 0

Bottom 3:
James Smith IV singled, Javon Hernandez scored.
Memphis 2, East Carolina 0

Top 5:
Walker Barron scored on an error.
Braden Burress reached on a fielder's choice, Jeff Sabater scored, unearned.
Colby Wallace reached on an error, Braden Burress scored, unearned.
Memphis 2, East Carolina 3

Bottom 6:
Tyler Harrington singled, Brady McAbee scored.
Shane Cox singled, James Smith IV and Tyler Harrington scored.
Memphis 5, East Carolina 3

UP NEXT

Memphis will be back at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field tomorrow for the rubber match with East Carolina. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 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.