The University of Memphis baseball team lost to Missouri State 13-12 on Sunday in Springfield, Missouri. The Tigers out-hit the Bears but could not overcome an early deficit, despite a late rally that brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning.
Memphis took an early lead with a double steal in the first inning, including a steal of home. However, Missouri State responded with two three-run home runs and an RBI single by Jax Ryan in the bottom of the first, giving them a 7-1 advantage. The Bears added another run through a double steal in the second and extended their lead to 10-1 after two more runs in the fifth.
The Tigers started their comeback attempt with two runs in the sixth and then scored six times in the seventh inning. Key contributions included a two-RBI single from Gupton and a double from Rodriguez that brought home two more runners. Despite narrowing the gap to one run, Memphis could not close it completely as Missouri State added three runs of their own in the seventh.
In the eighth inning, Memphis second baseman delivered a two-RBI single. In the ninth, first baseman hit a solo home run to bring Memphis within one run before Watson flew out to center field for the final out.
“Memphis was down to its final out when first baseman came up clutch for the Tigers again, hitting a solo home run to left field, bringing Memphis within one,” according to team officials. “Watson battled to a full count before flying out to center field to end the game as the Bears won 13-12.”
Several players stood out during Sunday’s game. The Tigers stole three bases, bringing their season total to 35 steals—ranking among national leaders and first in their conference. The center fielder had back-to-back four-RBI games for Memphis, marking an achievement last seen by Hunter Goodman against Western Illinois during February 2020.
Gupton’s home run marked his ninth extra-base hit this season—the highest on his team—and he now leads with 18 RBIs overall and five multi-RBI games so far this year.
Second baseman Cox continued his streak of reaching base safely every game this season while extending his eight-game hitting streak; he leads Memphis in batting average (.391), hits (25), doubles (6), and triples (1). Third baseman Rodriguez went 3-for-6 with a double and two RBIs on Sunday and now has 18 hits on the year along with nine stolen bases—a team high.
Additionally, another second baseman recorded his first multi-hit game as a Tiger.
Next up for Memphis are midweek home games at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field against Lipscomb on Tuesday at 4:05 p.m., followed by Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
