MEMPHIS, Tenn. --The Jackson State Tigers baseball team responded from being tied 4-4 in the eighth inning to win in breathtaking fashion, rallying to secure a 6-4 victory in the 10th inning over the Memphis Tigers on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Inaugural Grind City Classic.

Junior Stevins Spurgeon Jr. (2-0) pitched out of the bullpen for Jackson State (12-4) and won the victory. The southpaw pitched 0.1 shutout innings without giving up a hit. Freshman Shemar Harris also made an impact on the mound for the Tigers, throwing one shutout inning while allowing no hits, no walks, and one strikeout.

Freshman Robert Tate Jr. led the Tigers offensively, going 4-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. Junior Myles White provided a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Junior Lenny Montesano also chipped in, going 2-for-4 for Jackson State with a double.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Tigers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Junior Joseph Eichelberger came across to score the lone run of the inning for Jackson State and get them on the board.

The Tigers then held the Memphis Tigers scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Tate Jr. came across to score the lone run of the inning for Jackson State, which brought the score to 2-0 in favor of the JSU Tigers.

Memphis narrowed Jackson State's lead to 2-1 before the Tigers stretched the advantage to 3-1 in the fourth inning.

Jackson State surrendered the lead they built in the fourth, but got back on the scoreboard in the sixth, trailing 4-3. White crossed home plate with the lone run of the inning for the Tigers, tying the score at 4-4.

That 4-4 tie turned into a 6-4 Tigers lead in the tenth. With the help of a run-scoring double from White, Jackson State scored two runs off of Memphis pitching. The score remained 6-4 for the rest of the game, as the Tigers held on for the win.
 

GAME NOTES

• Tate Jr. collected four hits on the day for Jackson State.
• Jackson State's highest-scoring inning was the tenth when it pushed two runs across.
• The Tigers out-hit the Memphis Tigers at a 10-4 clip.
• Jackson State pitchers limited Memphis to just 1-for-10 (.100) with runners in scoring position.
• Jackson State pitchers faced 46 Memphis hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and 16 fly balls while striking out three.
• The Tigers drew four walks from Memphis pitching.
• Tate Jr. led the Tigers at the plate, going 4-for-4 with an RBI.
• Memphis was led offensively by senior Jacob Compton, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
• Sophomore Caden Robinson led the Memphis Tigers pitching staff, throwing five innings of three-run ball.
   

UP NEXT FOR THE TIGERS 
The Tigers will host Grambling State on Tuesday, March 12, in a non-conference game that will be played at Bob Braddy Field, and the first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

FOLLOW JACKSON STATE ATHLETICS 
For complete coverage of Jackson State athletics, follow the Tigers on social media at @GoJSUTigers (Instagram and Twitter) and Jackson State Tigers (Facebook), or visit the official home of Jackson State athletics at GoJSUTigers.com.

#TheeILove