University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Arkansas St
Memphis Loses Tight One To Arkansas State
Apr 19, 2000 | Baseball
April 19, 2000
Jonesboro, Ark. - The University of Memphis took a thin squad to Jonesboro to face Arkansas State on Wednesday evening. With three pitchers out due to sickness or injury, the Tigers looked to their young talent to lead them from the mound.
The first half of the game was a pitching duel between two freshman starters for each team. Tiger pitcher Nick Rogers no hit the Indians through four innings before giving up three hits in the fifth, including a one-run single by Brandon Maricle. Then, in the top of the sixth inning, Memphis exploded for four runs. Paul Reuer started off the inning with a hard single to the short stop and beat out the throw. Then Gabe Interiano was hit by a pitch and both runners were advanced by a sacrifice bunt by Wes Crane. After Butch Castor was intentionally walked, Nate Sams stepped up and ended Brandon Epperhart's effort at a shutout with a hard triple to the center field wall. Sams then scored on a wild pitch, making the score 4-1 at the end of six innings.
In the bottom of the seventh, Arkansas State struck again. With two outs and freshman Andy Whitten on the mound for Memphis in relief, Maricle struck again with a single that drove in two runners, making the score 4-3.
In the eighth, Jarod Wilson took the mound for Memphis. After Reed Bredensteiner singled down the line, Kent Brunen drove him in with a triple to tie the game. Brunen then scored off of a sacrifice fly by Ryan Corrigan to take the lead for good. Memphis was unable to make up any ground and fell by a final score of 5-4. Wilson (1-2) was credited with the loss, while John Anderson, who came on to pitch 2.1 innings of relief, got the win. Clint Helpenstill picked up his third save of the season for the Indians.
Memphis travels to Houston this weekend to face the 13th ranked Houston Cougars in a three game series in conference play before returning home on Tuesday to face Ole Miss at Nat Buring. Game times for the Houston series are 7:00 Friday and Saturday evenings and 1:00 Sunday. The Ole Miss game is scheduled for a 7:00 start on Tuesday.
