Memphis Captures Historic 2,000th Program Win in Thriller Over UTSA

Friday, May 8

Memphis, Tenn.

6:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

20-28, 11-11

UTSA

33-16, 15-7

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

Memphis Captures Historic 2,000th Program Win in Thriller Over UTSA

May 08, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis (20-28, 11-11 American) baseball team knocked off American Conference-leading UTSA (33-16, 15-7 American) by a score of 6-4 Friday night at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field to secure the program's 2,000^th win.

After falling behind 3-0 early, the Tigers answered with timely hitting and shutdown relief pitching to secure the series-opening victory. Memphis held the Roadrunners to just three hits on the night while Brady McAbee powered the offense with a three-run homer and four RBI.

Caden Robinson (2-0) earned the win in relief after tossing 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing no hits while striking out two. Carson Fair shut the door in the ninth to collect his 10th save of the season.

Memphis will be back in action tomorrow for Senior Day at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field. First pitch for game two against the Roadrunners is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

UTSA jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning after scoring on a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly and an RBI double.
Memphis answered in the bottom of the third when right fielder Marcus Smith doubled down the left field line before designated hitter Brady McAbee blasted a three-run homer to deep right field to even the score at 3-3.
The Roadrunners regained the lead in the fifth after an error allowed Jordan Ballin to score and make it 4-3.
The Tigers responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning as shortstop Javon Hernandez doubled into left field before McAbee lined an RBI single into shallow right to tie the game once again.
Memphis broke through in the eighth inning after center fielder Michael Gupton singled up the middle and second baseman Shane Cox reached on an error. Gupton and Cox both stole bases before Marcus Smith delivered a clutch two-run single to give the Tigers a 6-4 advantage.
Carson Fair retired the Roadrunners in the ninth to seal the win and record his conference-leading 10th save of the season.

NOTABLES

Friday's win marked the 2,000^th win in Memphis Baseball history.
Javon Hernandez, Michael Gupton and Shane Cox all stole bases for the Tigers, bringing the team's season total to 111 steals, which ranks in the top 30 nationally and first in the conference.
- The 111 steals are tied for the second-most in a single season in school history.
- Hernandez added another steal, now totaling 24 on the season, which ranks third in the conference.
- Gupton tallied his 14^th swipe of the season, while Cox now has 11.
Designated hitter Brady McAbee had a big night for the Tigers, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a homer and four RBI.
- McAbee tied the game in the third inning with a 380-foot home run, his sixth of the season and second in as many games.
- In the fifth inning he delivered again with a game-tying RBI single.
- McAbee has totaled 20 RBI on the season and recorded his second game this year with four or more RBI.
Right fielder Marcus Smith came through in the clutch for Memphis, driving in the game winning runs in the bottom of the eighth.
- Smith ended the day 2-for-4 with two RBI.
- With runners on second and third with just one out Smith chopped a ground ball over the UTSA first baseman that allowed Michael Gupton and Shane Cox to cross the plate, giving the Tigers a 6-4 lead.
- Smith notched his fifth multi-hit and third multi-RBI games this season, while also bringing his RBI total to 10.
Shortstop Javon Hernandez smacked a double in the fifth inning and came around to score after a Brady McAbee single.
- The double was his 11^th of the season, second most on the team, and his fifth extra-base hit in the last six games.
The Memphis bullpen did not give up an earned run in the final six innings of the game.
- Isaac Lucas was first out of the pen and allowed no hits and just one unearned run in his 1.2 innings of work.
- Caden Robinson earned the win for the Tigers with a final line of 3.1 innings pitched, zero hits, zero runs and 2 strikeouts.
  - Robinson lowered his ERA to 3.52 on the season, the third lowest on the team.
  - His 3.1 innings pitched marked his longest outing of the season as he recorded his second win thus far.
- Closer Carson Fair capped off a tremendous team effort with a scoreless ninth inning allowing no hits and recording the save.
  - Fair dropped his ERA to 2.95, the lowest of any Tiger.
  - His save was his 10^th of the season, placing him fifth all-time for single season saves in Memphis history.
  - Fair ranks first in the conference in saves and top 10 in the nation.

SCORING SUMMARY

Top 2:
Jacob Silva scored on a wild pitch.
Caden Miller hit a sacrifice fly, Christian Hallmark scored.
Drew Detlefsen doubled, Jordan Ballin scored.
Memphis 0, UTSA 3

Bottom 3:
Brady McAbee homered, Marcus Smith and Freddy Rodriguez scored.
Memphis 3, UTSA 3

Top 5:
Aidan Eshelman reached on an error, Jordan Ballin scored.
Memphis 3, UTSA 4

Bottom 5:
Brady McAbee singled, Javon Hernandez scored.
Memphis 4, UTSA 4

Bottom 8:
Marcus Smith singled, Michael Gupton and Shane Cox scored.
Memphis 6, UTSA 4

UP NEXT

Memphis and UTSA face off again tomorrow at 2:05 p.m. for game two of the series at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field.

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.