The Tiger baseball team gave up at least five runs for the 12th consecutive game, but managed to hold off Arkansas State, 8-5, Tuesday night at Nat Buring Stadium.
Memphis got four runs in the first inning, then added three more in the fourth for a 7-0 lead that seemed like it might last all night.
But ASU got two pinch-hit home runs in the top of the seventh inning to trim the lead to 7-3.
After the Tigers made it 8-3 in the bottom of the eighth, reliever Josh Payne made a game out of it in the top half of the ninth.
Payne hit the Indians’ lead-off hitter, then walked the next two batters to give ASU a bases-loaded situation with no outs.
The Indians scored just two runs on two fielder’s choices, but managed to load the bases again after Payne walked the next two batters. Arkansas State’s Eli Lapka flied out to right field to end the game.
Memphis improved to 15-22 overall while Arkansas State fell to 17-23.
