Memphis Baseball (11-9) was in another tough spot early in the season. Memphis would need a win, on the road, to close out Southeastern Louisiana University in a rubber match. The Tigers would get an 8-2 win today and a much-needed series win. We will look at the series as a whole, who players well, and what is next on the schedule for Memphis.
On The Road Again
Friday
Memphis would hit the road to Hammond, Louisiana to face the SLU Lions in a three-game series, The Tigers would start off well with a hard-fought 4-3 win to open the series. Starter JT Durham would throw three perfect innings. In relief, Dalton Kendrick would come in to close the game and get his fifth save of the season. Logan Kohler would get a crucial solo home run in the sixth inning followed by a sacrifice RBI to score Anthony Hansen to give Memphis the win.
Memphis would retire twelve Lions from the sixth through the ninth innings. Also, the first five runs of this game were all scored on two-out hits.
Starter, JT Durham would have this to say following game one.
“I thought our offense did a great job battling all night,“
“I came in and just tried to attack the zone and my defense made some great plays behind me. I just tried to get it to the next guy. I knew DK was going to come in for the ninth and he shut it down for us.”
Saturday
The Tigers would drop game two, 6-1, to even the series. In game two, Memphis would get down early and never be able to recover. The Lions jumped on the Tigers with an early 5-0 lead in the fifth and never looked back. Memphis would finish with 1 run on 5 hits for the game. Two hits would come from Brayland Skinner with single hits from Cameron Benson, Austin Baskin, and Logan Kohler. Starter, Dalton Fowler, would pitch 4.2 innings allowing 5 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Fowler faced 22 batters and threw 99 pitches on the day.
Coach Kerrick Jackson would have this to say post-game.
“Not our best game today,”
“I thought we lacked a little bit on the competitive side of things. Our hitters didn’t make any adjustments and their pitcher did a nice job of coming out and attacking us… We have to come out tomorrow and put ourselves in a position to win the series. We have to play better baseball and if we can be a little more competitive, we’ll put ourselves in a good position.”
Sunday
As mentioned above, Memphis was in a must-win situation in this series. On Sunday, the Tigers would claw away with an 8-2 win. Starter, Seth Garner, would pitch 6.2 innings while allowing 6 hits with 4 strikeouts and 1 earned run. Dalton Kendrick would get his sixth save of the season. Kendrick would work 2.1 innings allowing no hits, one walk, and 2 strikeouts to close out the Lions and series for Memphis. Memphis would finish the game with 15 hits, 1 error, and 9 left on base in 40 at-bats, The Tigers would score two runs in the second and seventh innings with four in the eighth to close it out.
Coach Jackson would have this to say following the series win.
“We had competitive at-bats today. Guys made adjustments from bat to bat and maybe even in bat at times”
“Great weekend series to get and looking forward to the next one.’
“This is how we need to play. If we do this I think we put ourselves in a good position moving forward.”
What is Next?
Memphis will have a very busy week! The Tigers will host Arkansas Little Rock, on Tuesday, at 6 pm, and Arkansas State, on Wednesday at 5 pm, for a pair of midweek games. Then, the Tigers will host Oral Roberts for a three-game weekend series. The Friday first pitch is scheduled for 6 pm. Saturday is scheduled for 4 pm and Sunday for 1 pm.
