Memphis baseball team starts regular season on wrong foot

The Memphis Tigers baseball team dropped their second game in a row Wednesday night to the Murray State Racers 10-6, despite a late inning rally. The Tigers fall to 1-3 on the season and gave the Racers their first win of the year. 

It was a rough night for the Tigers, their offense was unable to keep up with the Racers. Memphis scored six runs off nine hits, and that still was not enough to get the win. 

Tigers’ head coach Daron Schoenrock said they need every player in the lineup to be ready to make a big hit. 

“It doesn’t matter who that swing is, that has got to become anybody in the lineup,†Schoenrock said. “We have to get where when a moment is handed to us it doesn’t have to be (Cale) Hennemann or (Alec) Trela, it has to be anyone at any moment.â€Â 

Schoenrock said they have been trying new lineup techniques to produce more runs. 

“We’ve got some depth in this hitting regime,†Schoenrock said. “We’re going to start platooning some left and right stuff to try and find the guys that will execute and grab those moments.â€Â 

It was a rough night for the Tigers’ pitching staff as well, giving up seven earned runs and 14 hits. The Tigers used seven pitchers during the game including Landon Kelley. He pitched 3.2 innings, giving up no earned runs and only three hits. 

Tigers starter Drew Talley got the loss on the night after only pitching one inning. His record dropped to 0-1 after his first start of the season. 

Talley gave up a leadoff home run in the top of the first to Racers’ first baseman Ryan Perkins. The inning only got worse for him as he gave up another three run home run to left fielder Sean Darmafall extending the Racers’ lead to five. 

Memphis was able to make a dent to the lead in the bottom of the first decreasing the lead to five to one off a fielder’s choice.  

After exchanging runs in the third inning, the Racers still held a four run advantage leading six to two. The Tigers would score another run in the bottom of the fourth off an error by Racers’ first baseman Ryan Perkins to make the lead six to three. 

The Racers posted three runs in the top of the seventh. Second baseman Jordan Holly singled to center field for an RBI. Later in the inning center fielder Tyler Duke doubled scoring two to make the lead nine to three. 

Needing a late inning rally, the Tigers trailed by six entering the bottom of the seventh. Early in the inning third baseman Cale Hennemann singled scoring Evan Bell, and the hopeful rally was on. The Tigers managed to score two more runs in the inning making the lead nine to six.  

After a one run at the top of the ninth, the Tigers were down four starting the bottom of the inning. The Tigers needed some late inning magic to pull off the win. After a pop out and a strikeout to start the inning, it seemed the Tigers’ chance of winning was fading. With two outs Nick Vagge doubled sparking the Tigers’ hopes again. The next batter, Trela, flied out to center field ending the game.  

The Tigers will return to the diamond this weekend to start a three game series with the Southern Illinois Salukis. First pitch is 4 p.m. on Feb. 22 at FedEx Park.