{"id":173419,"date":"2026-03-01T02:26:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T02:26:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/173419\/"},"modified":"2026-03-01T02:26:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T02:26:08","slug":"cox-watson-homer-in-loss-to-jacksonville-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/173419\/","title":{"rendered":"Cox, Watson Homer in Loss to Jacksonville State"},"content":{"rendered":"

MEMPHIS, Tenn. \u2013 The University of Memphis (3-7) baseball team suffered a 9-4 defeat to Jacksonville State (9-2) on Saturday afternoon in the second game of the series.
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\nThe Gamecocks got on the board early, building a 6-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third before Webb Watson<\/a>‘s third home run of the season gave the Tigers life. The two teams went back and forth with Jax State scoring a run in the fifth, Memphis adding a third run in the sixth from a Shane Cox<\/a> solo shot and both teams scoring in the eighth inning. The Tigers had opportunities with runners in scoring position in the final two innings but could not overcome the Gamecocks’ early lead as Jax State won, 9-4.
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\nThe Tigers will return to FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field tomorrow for the final game of the series with Jacksonville State.
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\nHOW IT HAPPENED
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\n\tJacksonville State wasted no time getting a runner in scoring position as leadoff man Trey King doubled and later scored on another double from Brady Thomas.
\n\tThe Gamecocks continued their offensive display in the second, scoring four runs on four hits including another double and a home run.
\n\tIn the third inning, Jax State extended its lead to 6-0 until the bottom of the inning when Webb Watson<\/a> hit a two-run shot to right field that plated himself and Tyler Harrington<\/a>.
\n\tJax State added to its extra-base hit total in the fifth when Luke Williams hit a home run to right field, making the score 7-2.
\n\tMemphis second baseman Shane Cox<\/a> blasted his first home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth to get one back for the Tigers.
\n\tThomas proved troublesome again for Memphis, hitting an RBI triple in the eighth inning that got just past the glove of center fielder Michael Gupton<\/a>.
\n\tThe last run of the game was scored by the Tigers in the bottom of the eighth. Memphis loaded the bases but scored only once after Watson flew out to left, Gupton reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Parker Price<\/a> and Javon Hernandez<\/a> lined out to end the promising inning.
\n\tMemphis put runners on the corners with no outs in the ninth but again could not come through after Cox struck out and Brady McAbee<\/a> grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game. <\/p>\n

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\nNOTABLES
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\n\tJacksonville State scored four of its nine runs with two outs in the inning. 41 of the 80 runs allowed by the Tigers have come with two outs (51.3%).
\n\tSecond baseman Shane Cox<\/a> improved his season hit total to 18 after going 3-for-5 on the day, Cox has at least one hit in nine of 10 games so far this season and is batting .439.
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\n\t\tCox also hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot in the sixth.
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\n\tCox, along with shortstop Javon Hernandez<\/a> and right fielder James Smith IV<\/a>, have reached base in all 10 games so far.
\n\tThird baseman Freddy Rodriguez<\/a> had a good day at the plate, also going 3-for-5 with a double.
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\n\t\tHis three hits are a season high, and he sits at 12 hits on the year.
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\n\tLeft fielder Webb Watson<\/a> hit his third home run of the season for the Tigers, tied for the team lead with Michael Gupton<\/a>.
\n\tSmith IV became the third Memphis batter to reach 10 hits this season after his single in the ninth inning.
\n\tLefty reliever Jacob Dienes<\/a> pitched the final 1.1 innings for the Tigers, striking out three batters and did not allow a baserunner. <\/p>\n

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\nSCORING SUMMARY
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\nTop 1:
\nBrady Thomas doubled, Trey King scored.
\nMemphis 0, Jacksonville State 1
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\nTop 2:
\nTrey King hit a sacrifice fly, Matthew Cash scored.
\nCooper Blauser doubled, Orlando Pena scored.
\nBrady Thomas homered, Cooper Blauser scored.
\nMemphis 0, Jacksonville State 5
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\nTop 3:
\nCaleb Johnson hit a sacrifice fly, Jaxon Pate scored.
\nMemphis 0, Jacksonville State 6
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\nBottom 3:
\nWebb Watson<\/a> homered, Tyler Harrington<\/a> scored.
\nMemphis 2, Jacksonville State 6
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\nTop 5:
\nLuke Williams homered.
\nMemphis 2, Jacksonville State 7
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\nBottom 6:
\nShane Cox<\/a> homered.
\nMemphis 3, Jacksonville State 7
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\nTop 8:
\nBrady Thomas tripled, Trey King scored.
\nBrady Thomas scored on a wild pitch.
\nMemphis 3, Jacksonville State 9
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\nBottom 8:
\nMichael Gupton<\/a> reached on a fielder’s choice, Parker Price<\/a> scored.
\nMemphis 4, Jacksonville State 9
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\nUP NEXT
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\nMemphis will be back Sunday for the final game of the series against Jacksonville State at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.
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HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS:\u00a0For complete information on\u00a0Memphis Tiger Baseball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com<\/a> and follow the team’s social media channels on Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.

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