MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Trailing 4-0 after 2.5 innings, the Memphis Tigers (20-19, 5-8) rallied to tie the game with four runs in the fourth, only to fall back behind one batter into the fifth against the Wichita State Shockers (13-29, 2-11). Memphis rallied once again, as the Tigers scored three runs in the seventh, the latter two on a two-out, two-run double by 1B Chris Swanberg in a 7-6 come from behind win in the series opener.
Memphis: 7, Wichita State: 6
WP: Daniel Casto (3-1)
LP: Jace Kaminska (2-6)
SV: Dalton Kendrick (8)
How it happened:
- Two batters into the game, 2B Brock Rodden gave Wichita State a 1-0 lead with a solo home run off of RHP Landon Gartman (ND)
- The Shockers added a run in the second on an RBI double by SS Andrew Stewart, and grew the lead to 4-0 on a two-run home run by 3B Sawyre Thornhill in the third frame
- Memphis managed just two singles and a walk over the first three innings against Kaminska, but opened up the fourth frame with five consecutive hits
- After a leadoff single by DH Jacob Compton, LF Ian Bibiloni cut the Memphis deficit in half with a two-run home run
- Three straight singles followed Bibiloni's third home run of the season, as a base hit by 3B Logan Kohler pulled the Tigers within one, while CF Zach Wilson tied the game 4-4 with a sacrifice fly
- Wichita State answered immediately, as CF Chuck Ingram led off the fifth inning with a solo home run, his 11th of the season, though the Shockers didn't score again until the ninth inning
- Kaminska pitched to two batters in the seventh, and both reached, one on a walk and another on a HBP, as LHP Caden Favors relieved the Wichita State starter
- Compton tied the game with an RBI groundout, as he beat out a potential double play ball, while Favors then hit Bibiloni and gave up a go-ahead two-run, two-out double to Swanberg, which put Memphis in front 7-5
- Kendrick, who worked a perfect eighth inning, gave up consecutive singles to LF Jordan Rogers and Stewart to open the ninth, but the lefty retired the next three Shockers with a strikeout, fly out, and groundout, as Wichita State plated a harmless run and Memphis closed out a 7-6 win
Notables:
- Bibiloni (2-3) recorded his 13th multi-hit game of the season, tied for the team lead
- Swanberg tallied his ninth multi-RBI game of the season, also tied for the team lead
- RF Blake Daniels (BB) reached base for the 16th straight game, while Bibiloni and Wilson reached base for the 13th and 11th straight games respectively
Up Next:
- The Tigers will look for a series win and to set up a potential sweep opportunity, as they host the Shockers at 4 p.