After a 2-1 opening series win against SEMO, Matt Riser's Tigers continued to roll, winning their second series of the season agains Valparaiso, taking two of three.
Game 1:
Thanks to freezing weather, the Memphis Tigers began their second series of the year with a Saturday double-header against Valparaiso.
Valparaiso started off hot, attacking Seth Gardener in the first with 2 runs.
Memphis center fielder James Smith IV had a two-out RBI to get Memphis on the board to make it 2-1 Valpo. In the bottom of the second, Shane Cox hit his 2nd home run of the season, a solo shot to left field, to make it 2-2
In the third, Memphis took the lead thanks to an RBI groundout by James Smith IV. Valpo didn’t go down without a fight. They got back on top thanks to a two-run shot by Case Sullivan.
Chase Nixon hit a double down the right field line allowing Will Vasseur to score from first and tying the game at 4-4.
Then, in the eight, James Smith IV, once again, hit a ball down the right field line for a triple and a RBI, giving the Tigers a 5-4 lead.
Kylan Stepter closed out the game for Memphis, as the Tigers took game 1, 5-4.
Game 2:
After struggling in his first start as a Tiger, David Case began his 2nd start of the season striking out the first two Beacons. Then, however, Thomas Cooper hit a laser to left field for a solo home run, giving Valparaiso a 1-0 lead.
David case continued to do his thing, allowing no runs until the top of the third. Kade Reinertson gave Valpo a 2-0 advantage.
The Memphis offense got going in the bottom of the third, with two outs, Jonah Sutton hit a double. Then, Will Vasseur hit a ground ball right up the middle for an RBI single. James Smith IV kept the rally alive, hitting a ground ball through the right-side gap, tying the game. Seth Cox followed that up with a walk, loading the bases with 2 outs. Shane Cox hit a bases-clearing triple to give Memphis a 5-2 lead.
In the fourth, the Tigers extended their lead thanks to a Chase Nixon 2-RBI double. In the bottom of the sixth, Memphis made it 9-2.
Valparaiso added one more run in the seventh, but the Tigers held strong, winning game 2 by the score 9-3.
Game 3:
Giving up 5 runs in the second turned out to be too much for the Tigers despite a late inning surge, as they fell 5-3 in the final game of the weekend series to Valparaiso.
Caden Robinson, junior, continued his Sunday starts for the Tigers, but ultimately this one didn’t go as planned. Robinson was rattled early, putting 3 runners on base with 2 HBP and walking in a run in the second inning with 2 outs. Valparaiso took advantage with 2 RBI singles and a 2 RBI double.
Lefty Luke Ellis relieved Robinson in the 2nd, giving up no runs over the next 3 innings.
The Tigers got their first hit in the 5th inning, with a double from red-hot Shane Cox. Carter McKay had 2 RBI, scoring Cox and Cy Turner.
Seth Cox took the mound for the Tigers in the 7th and found his groove early. He only surrendered 2 hits in 3 innings, closing out the game strong and giving the Tigers a chance.
Chase Nixon tripled in the 8th and scored on a James Smith IV single, but the Tigers went 3-up 3-down in the final half inning, allowing Valparaiso to salvage the last game of the series.
Next:
The Tigers take on Alabama A&M Tuesday at 4:05.
