University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Southern Miss
Tigers Give Up Late Lead, Fall 10-9
Mar 18, 2000 | Baseball
March 18, 2000
Hattiesburg, Ms. - After getting out to a five-run lead in the top of the seventh, it seemed the University of Memphis baseball team (5-15, 0-2) was looking to capture it's first road win and also it's first Conference USA win of the season. That was until Southern Miss (12-9, 2-0) battled right back and scored six runs of their own to knock off the Tigers for the second straight day, winning Saturday afternoon by a score of 10-9. The game appeared to be headed for a rain-delay in the middle innings after several patches of showers, but ended after just under three-hours of play.
The Tigers got started in dramatic fashion in the top of the first, as senior right fielder Nate Sams hit a three-run blast over the left-field wall (his fourth of the year), scoring junior shortstop Gabe Interiano and sophomore second baseman Daniel Uggla, and Memphis led 3-0. The Golden Eagles would respond immediately in the bottom half of that inning, as Dusty Haley hit a two-out solo blast over the wall in left-center and Southern Miss was right back in the game. They would add one more run to that total in the first, as Darren Welch singled and drove in Chris Finnegan from second, and the gap was narrowed 3-2 going into the top of the second. Memphis would answer back in the top of the third, when Uggla singled up the middle and drove in Interiano from second, and the Tigers led 4-2. The Golden Eagles wouldn't stay down for long as Ben Mosely hit a solo blast over the center-field wall, and just like that the score was 4-3. Mosely with that home run is now the C-USA leader with eight dingers on the year. In the top of the fifth, Memphis got another run when Uggla grounded out to the pitcher but not before driving in sophomore center-fielder Paul Reuer from third, and the score was then 5-3, Memphis. The Tigers would cushion their lead in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs to go up by five. Uggla with the hot bat doubled to score Reuer from third, then senior designated hitter Henry Castor pinch hit for junior designated hitter Jonathan Leicester and also doubled to drive in Uggla. The next batter was senior right-fielder Wes Crane who was sent in to pinch-hit for Sams, and he responded with a single to left, which scored Castor. Memphis' last run of the inning came when junior third baseman Tyler Shelton singled to left and drove in Crane from third and all of a sudden the Tigers were up big, 9-4. The lead was short-lived however, as Southern Miss would storm back and score six runs in the bottom of the seventh and take the lead for good, 10-9.
Offensively Uggla, who went 3-for-5 with two singles and a double while scoring two runs and getting three RBI, led the Tigers. Crane wasn't far behind, going 2-for-2 with two singles while scoring a run and getting one RBI.
On the mound, Castor took the loss (2-3) coming in for relief duty in the seventh. He faced 12 batters and allowed three earned runs on five hits while walking two and fanning two, as well. Getting the win for the Golden Eagles was Joseph Paul (1-0), who also came in as a reliever. Paul only went for half an inning, facing five batters and allowing two earned runs on three hits. The save went to Colby Calcote, his first of the year.
Coach Jeff Hopkins after the game said, "It was another heartbreaking loss for us, and a heck of a battle. Just another heartbreaker basically."
This game marks the fifth time this year the Tigers have lost a game by only one run.
These two teams will play the final game of a three-game series tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Pete Taylor Park. The game was originally scheduled for 1 p.m., but because of the rain today and a 90 percent chance tomorrow, the game was moved up in an attempt to avoid any cancellation.
