Tubbs' Walk-Off Blast Highlights Home Opener

Saturday, February 28

Memphis, Tenn.

12:00 PM

University of Memphis

3-2

Saint Louis

3-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Saint Louis	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	5	1
Memphis	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	13	1

Feb 28, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Feb. 28, 2015

Box Score

Game_One_Box_Score

Game_Two_Box_Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team split its double-header with Saint Louis on what turned out to be a beautiful Saturday afternoon at FedExPark in front of 552 fans. The Tigers walked-off as the victors in game one, 4-3, thanks to senior captain Tucker Tubbs' 10th-inning solo shot while the Blue and Gray dropped a 3-2 decision in the second game of the day. Memphis moves to 3-3 on the young season while the Billikens go to 4-5.

The Tigers will look to win the series in Sunday's rubber match. First pitch is slated for noon and live stats are available via GoTigersGo.com.

“This was a good opportunity today for us to finally get back out on the field and play,” Memphis skipper Daron Schoenrock said. “We didn't handle a couple of things defensively. I thought our pitching staff threw well. Saint Louis' starter in game two gave us fits. He had his breaking ball going. We just didn't have a lot of quality at bats on him. They got the two big swings off in their two-run inning. It's tough to work out of situations like that, but we were one pitch away from getting out of it. I thought these were two well played games today.”

Memphis received another quality start from senior pitcher Dylan Toscano in the home opener. The burly right-hander tossed 8.0 innings while yielding just three runs (two earned) on four hits. The Franklin, Tenn., native walked four while matching the second-highest strikeout total of his career with six punchouts.

Tubbs' three base knocks led the offensive attack that matched a season-high with 13 hits. Outfielders Kane Barrow, Darien Tubbs and Chris Carrier each belted out a pair while eight-of-nine starters notched singles in the win.

The Billikens broke the scoring seal in the top of the second inning. Jake Henson singled through the right side with one out and moved up to third after a hit batter and a wild pitch. Danny Mannion grounded out to Overbey, but the Tigers were unable to turn the double play due to the slow roller, allowing the run to cross the plate. With two runners in scoring position, Toscano buckled down and struck out Alex King to end the scoring chance.

Memphis stormed back in the bottom half of the second to put up a crooked number and take the lead. Carrier and freshman Brandon Montgomery each got base knocks sandwiched around a walk to Overbey to load the bases. Damo DeMatteo singled through the right side to notch his first two RBI in the Blue and Gray. D. Tubbs legged out an infield single following a wild pitch that allowed Montgomery to score to give Memphis a 3-1 advantage.

The Billikens manufactured single runs in the fourth and seventh innings to tie the game up. After Colton Frabasilo reached on an error and advanced to second on a balk, Henson singled down the line in left to cut the deficit in half for SLU in the fourth. In the seventh, Michael Bozarth drew a five pitch walk to open the frame and the left fielder went first-to-third on a single to shortstop. Memphis induced a 6-4-3 double play as the tying run came in to score.

Fireworks flew in the bottom of the tenth. Kane Barrow roped a double deep down the line in right, but was thrown out looking for three. With two outs, Tucker Tubbs belted the first pitch of the at-bat over the wall in left to give the Tigers their first walk-off homer since Tyler Huelsing went yard against East Carolina on April 9, 2010.

“Kane got a hit right before me and I thought he was going to try and come in with a first-pitch fastball on me,” Tubbs said. “I didn't miss it. It felt good to get the win, especially in that fashion.

Craig Caufield picked up his first win of the season with two scoreless innings of relief. Brett Shimanovsky was saddled with the loss after surrendering the dinger in the tenth.

Runs were at a premium in the second game of the afternoon as both starters combined for three runs over 13.0 innings. Caleb Wallingford (1-1) took a hard-luck loss after giving up three runs on nine hits over six innings. Billikens starter Clay Smith (2-0) earned the win, scattering six hits and four walks to only surrender two runs.

Following the walk off, Memphis came out swinging the lumber in game two. In the bottom of the first, Darien Tubbs led off with a single before moving up to third on a single and a double play. Tucker Tubbs drove in the speedster with a base knock up the middle to stake the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

On the rubber, Wallingford was in a rhythm early by keeping hitters off balance. The southpaw scattered four hits through the first four innings while throwing a shutout. In the fifth, however, the senior was unable to pitch out of trouble before surrendering the tying run. Josh Bunselmeyer singled down the line in left to open up the inning. Henson knocked a lazy line drive just over the head of Tubbs at first to allow Bunselmeyer to go first-to-third. Trent Leimkuehler plated the run on a fielder's choice up the middle. Montgomery, playing second base, was unable to complete the double play as Henson was able to slide in and disrupt the throw across the diamond.

The Memphis starter appeared to pitch his way out of a jam in the sixth after giving up a single and a double to open the frame. The Elkhorn, Neb., native got a groundout to second for the first out and the Tigers cut down the would-be go-ahead run at the plate on a grounder to third. With runners on first and second and a 3-2 count, Bunselmeyer ripped a double to left-center, allowing both runners to score as they were running on the pitch.

Trailing 3-1, Barrow hit the Tigers' second round tripper of the afternoon with the moon shot to left. The Paris, Tenn., native narrowed the deficit to one with the fourth dinger of his career. Memphis looked like it would tie the game up after Carrier walked and stole second. Jake Overbey pulled a ball into left, but Carrier was thrown out at the plate trying to score.

The bullpen of the Blue and Gray gave the Tigers a chance late in the game as Colton Hathcock and Blake Myers combined for three innings of shutout baseball, but Memphis was unable to push across the equalizer in the late goings, falling 3-2.

The University of Memphis baseball team looks to win the rubber match against the Billikens tomorrow at noon at FedExPark. Visit GoTigersGo.com and follow @MemphisBaseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest news on the team.