Tuesday night was a celebration of a moment three years in the making for Coach Riser and his Memphis Tigers. The Tigers’ hard work and culture change led to a massive victory over an 18th-ranked Ole Miss, the first-ranked win since 2023. A 6-2 win over the Rebels of Ole Miss proved that, although it might seem impossible, Memphis baseball is on the verge of a breakthrough, as they shocked the Rebels and now the momentum to build off of that they’ve been seeking since Coach Riser took over as Head Coach. 

When Coach Riser took over, the complete overhaul he had to make of the program would be enough to keep many people away from Memphis baseball, but not Coach Riser. In his three seasons as Head Coach of the Tigers, the road has not been easy, but after each loss comes an unreal amount of accountability and self reflection that alone has prepared this program for wins like they had on Tuesday night, and to use that mometum to end March on a high note, while preparing for the final two months of the reguarl season that could possblity see the Tigers earn a trip to he American Conference Tournament in Clearwater. 

Given that the Tigers have a 7-16 record, they would likely have to win the American Tournament to reach a Regional, but that is a much larger goal than the smaller victory the Tigers have every reason to celebrate from Tuesday night. In years past, Memphis would get close but never finish those games, and the Tigers not only finished the job on Tuesday night but also dominated Ole Miss. Memphis did all the small things right against the Rebels; they played true to the brand of baseball that Coach Riser and his staff have worked so hard to instill, and now there’s a sign of what’s possible in the years to come. 

So, where does Memphis go from here? How do the Tigers use the 6-2 win over Ole Miss on Tuesday for mometum to reach at a bare minimum the conference tournament? 

First things first, put whatever happened before beating Ole Miss behind you and focus on the facts that you have the talent to beat anybody else remaining on the schedule, with the exception of the game at Mississippi State. There’s no reason that Memphis can’t, at the very least, compete this season. The talent is there for it, just don’t let what beat you before beat you again. 

Second, stay true to the brand and do the little things right. Often in baseball, teams try to overcomplicate things, which leads to careless mistakes. Play hard, and play smart, and the pathway to success down the stretch is there. Again, use that mometum from beating Ole Miss to your advantage and play to your true potential. The early season doesn’t define the 2026 Memphis baseball; how they finish will set the standard for next season. 

Lastly, trust the process. It’s really that simple. Coach Riser is a proven winner who takes programs like Memphis and builds them into programs that win baseball games. That win on Tuesday night was three years in the making; now, turn that into a season bookmarked as the season when Tigers baseball changed forever. These past three years have not been easy, but the foundation has been laid for the Tigers to turn things up a notch or two and, at the very least, make a return trip to the American Conference Tournament in Clearwater. 

Memphis will return to action this weekend, welcoming the Wichita State Shockers to FedExPark for a three-game conference series. 

Photo Credits- Memphis baseball on X