Memphis Sweats Out 6-5 Win at UCF

Saturday, May 9

Orlando, Fla.

3:00 PM

University of Memphis

33-16, 11-9

UCF

29-21, 8-12

Memphis

UCF

May 09, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

May 9, 2015

Final Stats

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Memphis scored three runs in the first inning and had to fight off multiple UCF rallies to claim a 6-5 win and even the series Saturday at Jay Bergman Field. The crucial rubber match is scheduled for Sunday at 10:00 a.m. (CT).

Starting pitcher Dylan Toscano battled through 5 1/3 innings pitched. He allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits. Toscano struck out five and walked two on the way to his eighth win of the season.

Colton Hathcock, Blake Myers and Nolan Blackwood combined to allow just one run over the final 3 2/3 innings.

Memphis' sophomore closer, Blackwood, recorded his 13th save of the season after allowing just one hit in two innings of relief.

The Tigers led the entire way but couldn't stretch the lead to more than two runs after the first inning and UCF cut it to a one-run game on four occasions.

Memphis grabbed an early lead after both Darien Tubbs and Zach Schritenthal started the game with singles. Kane Barrow drove in Tubbs with a sacrifice fly to right field to start the scoring.

Tucker Tubbs provided an early big blow as he blasted his 16th home run of the season to make the score 3-0 in the top of the first inning. He finished the game 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Dylan Toscano needed just one pitch to record the first out of the game, but a soft single with one out started a UCF rally. An errant throw put runners at second and third for the Knights. Toscano did well to pitch out of the jam, allowing just one run on a groundball out.

UCF started the second inning with a walk and a single to put runners on the corners with nobody out. The Knights scored their second run of the game on a sacrifice fly to center field. Again Toscano was able to pitch out of the jam with just one run allowed.

The Tigers added a run in the top of the fourth after Brandon Montgomery singled with one out and swiped second base. Jake Overbey legged out an infield single and Montgomery scampered home when the throw got away from the first baseman.

The Knights scored again in the fourth inning after two doubles to cut the lead back to one run, 4-3.

Memphis again pushed the lead back to two runs when Carter White led off the sixth inning with his first home run of the season to make the score 5-3.

UCF answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the margin back to one run. After a one-out double, the Tigers turned to Colton Hathcock out of the bullpen. The freshman right-hander got two strikeouts to get Memphis out of the jam in the sixth.

The Tigers put themselves in a tough spot in the bottom of the seventh after a lead-off single. Derrick Salberg then legged out a bunt single and an errant throw allowed the runners to go to second and third with no outs.

Blake Myers was called on out of the bullpen and immediately got a strikeout for the first out. With the Tiger infield drawn in, Memphis turned a huge 3-5-2 double play to end the inning and keep the lead intact.

The Tigers tacked on a run in the eighth to extend the lead back to two runs. Tucker Tubbs walked to start the inning and UCF turned to the bullpen. White sacrificed Tubbs to second off of reliever Harrison Hukari before Jake Little drove in Tubbs with an RBI single to left. Little was 2-for-4 in the game with on run driven in.

The Knights again had an answer as Tommy Williams led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a solo home run. Blake Myers then issued a walk to the next batter to end his day.

Nolan Blackwood allowed a one-out single but for the second straight inning the Tigers turned a crucial double play to end the inning. This time it was a bouncer back to Blackwood, who started the 1-6-3 double play.