Tigers Fall to Samford, 8-4

Monday, March 9

Memphis, Tenn.

2:00 PM

University of Memphis

4-4

Samford

4-8

Samford

Memphis

Mar 09, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

March 9, 2015

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - After eight days of rain, sleet and snow, the University of Memphis baseball team finally returned to action on a wet Monday morning at FedExPark. The Tigers were unable to come up with timely hits in an 8-4 loss to Samford. The Blue and Gray fall to 4-4 on the season while the Bulldogs improve to 4-8.

Memphis was plagued with three double-plays and stranded 11 runners in the loss. Senior Kane Barrow extended his hitting streak to six games with his RBI double in the bottom of the ninth. Tigers' starting pitcher Dylan Toscano (L, 1-1) suffered his first setback of the season after giving up six runs on eight hits and a walk over four innings of work.

Samford put up four runs in the top of the third to break the scoring seal. Richard Greene led off the inning with a single up the middle before Danny Rodriguez knocked him in from first on a double to the right-center gap. T.J. Dixon then placed a perfect bunt down the third-base line that stayed fair as Memphis catcher Damo DeMatteo expected the ball to roll into foul territory. Toscano appeared to elude the trouble after back-to-back strikeouts, but a wild pitch and a walk put runners on the corners after another run crossed the plate. Hunter Swelling belted a triple to deep left-center to clear the bases and stake the Bulldogs a 4-0 advantage.

The Tigers cut into the lead in the bottom of the third. Zach Schritenthal led off with a single into left field and Darien Tubbs sprayed a ball through the right side. Following a sacrifice bunt, Barrow drove in Schritenthal with an RBI groundout to short, but a fly out ended the threat.

The Bulldogs added a trio of runs in the top of the fifth to chase Toscano from the game. Leadoff man Alex Lee was hit-by-pitch before Swilling powered the first pitch he saw over the wall in left, keeping the ball just inside the foul pole for a two run home run. Following a three-base error, Damon Waller lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center to put Samford up 7-1.

After both sides exchanged runs in the bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth, Memphis appeared as if it would be primed for a comeback in the bottom of the ninth, down 8-2. Tubbs' leadoff HBP was erased on a fielder's choice as the Tigers' speedster managed to break up a would-be double play. Barrow roped an RBI double over the right fielder's head to plate Tubbs and extend his hitting streak to six games. Senior Carter White then laced a ball just past the outstretched glove of the first basemen down the line en-route to a double, scoring Barrow, but a groundout ended the Blue and Gray's hopes of a comeback, sealing the game, 8-4.

Swilling led all hitters, going 4-for-5 at the plate with five RBI. Bulldogs starter Alex Ledford went five innings, allowing three hits and seven walks for the victory while Mark Donham pitched four innings in relief for his first save.

Memphis will be back in action tomorrow evening when it welcomes Middle Tennessee State to FedExPark. First pitch is slated for 6:30. Visit GoTigersGo.com and follow @MemphisBaseball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for all the latest news on the team.