MEMPHIS, Tenn. (3/13/24) – Arkansas State baseball (11-7, 0-0 SBC) started hot against Memphis (9-10, 0-0 AAC), but could not maintain their momentum as they fell 13-7 on Wednesday night at FedEx Park.
 
Chase Armstrong made his first start of the season for the Red Wolves, surrendering three earned runs on two hits while striking out one over 0.1 innings pitched. On the flip side, Cason Tollett led the bats with three hits in four plate appearances, including a three-run homer in the opening frame.
 
The first two batters reached for A-State before Tollett crushed the three-run bomb to the parking lot behind left field. The Tigers immediately responded during the next frame with a pair of runs off a double from Will Marcy and a single from Austin Baskin.
 
Pierre Seals contributed with a two-run shot over the left-field wall to put Memphis ahead and it was followed by a solo-homer from Seth Cox. Both teams combined for nine runs in the first with Memphis holding a 6-3 advantage.
 
The Red Wolves cut the deficit to two runs in the second when Dylan DeButy crossed the plate uncontested following a sacrifice fly from Wil French. However, the Tigers added three more runs to the tally on a two-run homer from Daunte Stewart and a single from Cox.
 
The Scarlet and Black got two runs on a pair of bases-loaded walks in the next inning but stranded three going into the bottom frame. Marcy doubled to right center and Baskin followed with a single to right field, bringing in two more runs to make the score 11-6 after three.
 
Both sides would go silent over the next seven frames, combining for only five hits during that span.
 
Memphis broke the scoreless stretch in the seventh with a double from Jacob Compton, making the score 12-6. Alex Fernandes recorded a sacrifice fly to right field a few at-bats later and extended the deficit to seven runs.
 
Nyan Hayes opened the ninth with a solo-shot to left field, but the Scarlet and Black were unable to put together a rally. Malik Harris (2-0) earned the win and Jake Curtis (1) recorded the save while Jake Henry Williams (1-1) took the loss.

NEXT UP
Arkansas State opens conference play with a series against Louisiana beginning on Friday, March 15 at Tomlinson Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+ and can be heard on 95.3/96.9 The Ticket Radio Network along with the A-State Red Wolves mobile app.
 
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