Cincinnati Takes Series with 12th Inning Walk-Off Win

Sunday, April 12

Cincinnati, Ohio

12:00 PM

University of Memphis

22-10, 5-4

Cincinnati

11-22, 4-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Memphis	1	0	0	1	0	2	0	1	2	0	0	0	7	11	1
Cincinnati	2	0	1	0	1	1	0	2	0	0	0	1	8	14	0

Cincinnati Takes Series with 12th Inning Walk-Off Win

Apr 12, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

April 12, 2015

Final Stats

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Memphis scored two runs in the top of the ninth to send the series-deciding game with Cincinnati into extra innings but the Bearcats came out on top with an 8-7 win in the 12th. The league series loss is the first this season for Memphis (22-10, 5-4 AAC).

Closer Nolan Blackwood had been on the mound for a season-high in innings and pitches thrown when the American Athletic Conference preseason Player of the Year Ian Happ singled to start the 12th inning. After the Bearcats sacrificed him to second base, third baseman Devin Wenzel drove him in for the victory.

After being held hitless for the first two games of the series, Happ finished the game 5-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored. He hit two home runs in the game.

Memphis was down to its final strike in the top of the ninth inning with first baseman Tucker Tubbs at the plate. The senior got down in the count but lined a single to center field to score Darien Tubbs and tie the game.

Tubbs homered for a fifth consecutive game in the top of the sixth. The blast, which was a two-run shot, tied the game 4-4. He finished the game 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Tubbs hit a solo homer at Belmont Monday, a two-run shot against Mississippi State Wednesday, two solo bombs Friday against Cincinnati and another solo homer against the Bearcats Saturday.

The game was a wild, back-and-forth affair with Memphis scoring runs in five different innings and Cincinnati scoring in six separate frames.

After homering out of the park for the first time in his career Saturday night, Darien Tubbs started Sunday's ballgame with a lead-off home run to right field. It was the first lead-off homer for Memphis since 2007.

Happ answered with a go-ahead two run home run in the second inning, his first of the game.

Cincinnati added to its lead with a run on a sacrifice fly in the third. Alexander did well to allow just the one run in the frame. Shortstop Manny Rodriguez led off the inning with a single back up the middle. He appeared to be picked off for the second time in the series but the throw from catcher Carter White was errant allowing Rodriguez to move to second. He then advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on the sac fly by first baseman Ryan Noda to make the score 3-1.

The Tigers got a run back in the top of the fourth after left fielder Kane Barrow reached on a passed ball on a strikeout to start a rally. He went to third base on a single by first baseman Tucker Tubbs and scored on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Chris Carrier.

Cincinnati's junior right fielder Happ homered for the second time in the game to make the score 4-2 after five innings.

After Tucker Tubbs tied the game 4-4 in the top of the sixth, Memphis decided to go to the bullpen. Starter Connor Alexander pitched five innings and allowed four runs on seven hits.

Ryan Garner started the bottom of the sixth inning in relief but after a walk and a single head coach Daron Schoenrock turned to Colton Hathcock. Cincinnati retook the lead on a squeeze bunt but Hatchcock was able to get out of the inning without more damage.

Darien Tubbs and Brandon Montgomery both singled to start the top of the eighth inning and both moved up on a ground out by Kane Barrow. The Bearcats wouldn't take any chances with Tucker Tubbs and intentionally walked him to load the bases with one out.

With two outs in the inning Zach Schritenthal legged out an infield single to score Darien Tubbs from third base that tied the game, 5-5.

Cincinnati again had an answer with a two-out two-run home run to right field, retaking the lead 7-5.

Pinch-hitter Corey Chafin singled with one out in the ninth and was run for by Carlos Williams. Darien Tubbs followed with a single of his own to put two runners on base. Barrow singled to right field to score Williams for the first run of the inning.

Cincinnati brought in reliever Andrew Zellner to face Tucker Tubbs and the Tigers' senior first baseman came through with the RBI single to tie the game.

Memphis played some strategy and intentionally walked Happ in the bottom of the ninth. It paid off as Nolan Blackwood came in to pitch and go the job done, sending the game to extra innings.

The Tigers will again play two midweek games next week -- first at Austin Peay Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. before hosting Belmont Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at FedExPark. Memphis is back at home this weekend to host league-leading South Florida for a three-game series.