The Memphis Baseball team has reached another difficult stretch in the schedule.
A two-game series against Arkansas and a three-game series against Murray State concluded unfavorably for Memphis. The Tigers dropped below a winning record for the third time this season.
The UofM took a trip to play the No. 2 Razorbacks and lost both games. They were outscored 23-5. Then, they went back to Memphis to host a four-game series against Murray State. The second game of the series was postponed, making a three-game series.
Game 1 - Arkansas wins 14-1
The Tigers played their ranked opponent of the season, all of them being ranked fourth or higher. Memphis has lost all games against the previous Ole Miss and Vanderbilt teams. Arkansas provided the same narrative, winning by 13 runs.
The only run Memphis got was a single that brought Taylor Howell home. The game was 5-1 after the seventh inning. A disastrous eighth inning shut the Tigers out. Arkansas scored nine runs in the eighth and took the first game soundly.
Game 2 - Arkansas wins 9-4
The Tigers started the second game quicker and led 2-0 after the top of the third inning. The Razorbacks responded quickly, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third. Arkansas kept their foot on the gas and put up runs in the next four of five innings.
Memphis scored again in the fourth and the seventh inning, but the closest the score came was 4-7. Arkansas went on to win 9-4 earning both games of the series.
Game 1 - Murray State wins 9-5
The Tigers returned to FedEx Park for a series with Murray State. Murray State took the lead first after getting two runs in the first inning. Memphis responded and overcame the deficit after the fourth inning.
The Tigers led 4-2 going into the fifth, but Murray State opened the fifth inning wide open with 5 runs. Memphis drew back their lead later in the fifth making it 7-5.
Murray State continued to connect, getting another 2 runs in the sixth building a lead of 9-5. The final three innings went scoreless for both teams and the final was 9-5.
Game 2* - Memphis wins 6-1
What should have been the third game of the series became the second after a postponement. A double-header was the next challenge for the Tigers, both being seven inning games.
Murray State scored first in the first inning. Memphis responded by tying it 1-1 in the second. The Tigers constructed a late lead in the fifth inning, making it 3-1.
The sixth inning was good to the Tigers, Memphis earned another three runs, making their lead 6-1. Murray State folded and Memphis got their first win after losing three straight.
Game 3 - Murray State wins 4-2
The second game of the double-header went to Murray State. Once again, Murray State took the lead in the first inning. Trailing 1-0, Memphis took the lead in the second inning 2-1. But it was not enough to keep Murray State away. They then scored three runs in the fourth and took the lead back 4-2.
The Tigers went scoreless after the second inning and Murray State took off with a series win in Memphis.
What's next?
The game opponent on the Tigers' schedule is Tulane. A four-game series in New Orleans will give Memphis another chance to get above a .500 record.
The Tigers hit a rough patch once again after dropping four of their last five games against Arkansas and Murray State. The Tigers return to the diamond against Tulane Thursday.
