Tigers Lose Rain-Shortened Game in Jackson

Wednesday, March 9

Jackson, Tenn.

6:00 PM

University of Memphis

5-7

Middle Tennessee

8-5

Memphis

Middle Tennessee

Photo by: Brent Beerends

Mar 09, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

JACKSON, Tenn. – Memphis managed just one run on three hits in six innings as Middle Tennessee held on for a 3-1 win over the Tigers in a rain-shortened game at the Ballpark at Jackson, the home of the Seattle Mariners' Double-A affiliate Jackson Generals.

Freshman pitcher Jonathan Bowlan made his first career start on the mound and allowed two earned runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Hunter Smith pitched in relief and allowed just one hit in 1 1/3 innings.

Middle Tennessee loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning but Jonathan Bowlan was able to get out of the jam to keep the Blue Raiders off the board.

Memphis followed up by loading the bases themselves in the top of the second. Third baseman Zach Schritenthal worked a two-out walk, first baseman Jacob Elliott singled and catcher Damo DeMatteo walked to load the bases.

Shortstop Jake Overbey, the Jackson, Tenn. native, hit a ball that chased the left fielder all the way to the wall but the outfielder made the play to rob Overbey of extra-bases.

The Blue Raiders broke the deadlock with an unearned run off of Bowlan in the bottom of the third inning. A single started the inning but an error put two runners on base with nobody out.

Bowlan was able to get a 4-6-3 double play but it did advance a runner to third base, who then scored on an infield single.

MTSU added to its lead with some two-out damage in the bottom of the fourth. The Blue Raiders got three straight hits off of Bowlan with two outs to make the score 3-0.

The Tigers turned to Hunter Smith out of the bullpen and the freshman left-hander got a strikeout to end the inning.

Just before the game was called due to weather, Memphis got on the board in the top of the sixth when second baseman Brandon Grudzielanek drove in left fielder Chris Carrier with a two-out single up the middle.

Up next for the Tigers is a three-game weekend series with No. 12 Missouri State. The weather forecast for the weekend calls for rain for the majority of the weekend. Fans can check for scheduling updates on GoTigersGo.com and on twitter @MemphisBaseball.