Memphis, TN – Contributed – Arkansas State (18-10, 5-4 SBC) mounted a valiant multi-inning comeback highlighted by six home runs but fell on the road at Memphis (9-12, 2-4 AAC), 9-11 on Tuesday night at FedExPark.
The Red Wolves fell behind early, Memphis loading the bases early and working through all nine batters in just the first inning for four runs, all off RBI singles. A-State got on the board in the top of the second with a leadoff double from Evan Griffis, who came home on a single from Cason Campbell. Memphis then added another four runs off three hits in the bottom of the second for the early 8-1 lead.
The score held steady through the third and fourth, Memphis only adding a hit to their total in that span.
The tide changed in the fifth inning with a two-out homer to left field from Patrick Engskov to start the rally. Griffis followed it up with a single, then jogged home after Derek Martinez launched his own home run into left. Campbell knocked a two-bagger down the left field line but didn’t stay there long as Jake Henry Williams blasted another homer to score two, succeeded by a Cross Jumper dinger to bring A-State just one run behind Memphis.
Martinez lifted his second home run of the night in the seventh to equalize the game at eight, and
Andrew Allen took over for the last out in the fourth, going 4.0 innings and striking out seven along the way. Allen didn’t give up a hit until the seventh inning.
Jumper led off the eighth inning with a shot to left for the Red Wolves’ sixth homer of the night to give A-State the 9-8 lead. Memphis responded in the bottom of the frame with a three-run shot to take the lead by two. Arkansas State managed to put the tying run at the plate but ran out of outs.
Win: Davis Oswalt (2-1)
Loss: Andrew Allen (0-3)
Save: Carson Fair (5)
UP NEXT
A-State continues their road swing with a conference series at Troy, with first pitch on Thursday, April 2 set for 6 p.m.
