Arkansas State’s baseball team went on the road Tuesday for their second matchup with the Memphis Tigers. The Red Wolves defeated the Tigers in their last matchup, and this matchup was no different.

The Red Wolves came to Memphis after a tough series loss to Georgia Southern. Georgia Southern ranks in the upper end of a particularly tough Sun Belt Conference. A-State won their first game against the Eagles but dropped their next two games, each by a margin of three runs.

Memphis also lost their last series. The Tigers stayed home over the past weekend to host the Rice Owls, their fellow basement dwellers in the American Athletic Conference. Memphis dropped the first two games of the series but got a blowout win over the Owls to close the series. 

Pitcher Jack Nelson was promoted from his reliever role to starter for this game, and pitched well for 3.2 innings. Nelson got 5 strikeouts, allowed no walks and gave up 7 hits. Nelson also unfortunately allowed 3 home runs. The Tigers sluggers were in full force for this game, as Memphis scored 4 home runs.

The Red Wolves opened scoring early with a 2 RBI single by second baseman Cason Campbell in the top of the first inning. A-State built even further on their lead with a huge second inning. Tigers pitcher Seth Cox loaded the bases and gave up an RBI single to center fielder Ashton Quiller. The bases still loaded, Cox walked first baseman Wil French and brought another A-State run across. Right fielder Cross Jumper hit into a sacrifice double play, gaining another run for the Red Wolves and making the score 5-0.

Memphis responded with a solo home run from Tigers catcher Jack Pitts. A-State extended the lead even further in the third inning. Third baseman Daedrick Cail hit an RBI single, then scored a run himself after a sacrifice grounder from French.

The Memphis offense exploded in the middle innings. In the fourth inning, Tigers designated hitter smashed a two-run homer, and just two batters later Tigers shortstop Creek Robertson hit another solo home run. This forced the Red Wolves to sit Nelson and replace him with relieving pitcher Tyler Weimer. Weimer allowed another two-run home run in the fifth inning and was replaced by Jelle van der Lelie. The huge offensive surge allowed the Tigers to get within one run of the lead with a 7-6 score.

The Tigers bats cooled off after the fifth and the Red Wolves were able to score an additional run. French hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh and brought Cail across home to make the score 8-6. Closing pitcher Chase Richter closed out the game and secured an A-State victory.

Arkansas State moves their overall record to 19-21 with the victory. The win means the Red Wolves have swept Memphis for the first time since 2016. A-State are currently safe for the Sun Belt Tournament. The top ten teams in the conference make the tournament and the Red Wolves are in eighth place in the conference. 

Categories: Sports