Memphis Snags Series Opener 5-2 over Georgia Southern

Friday, March 3

Memphis, Tenn.

6:30 PM

University of Memphis

6-2

Georgia Southern

4-5

Georgia Southern

Memphis

Memphis Snags Series Opener 5-2 over Georgia Southern

Mar 03, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

Trent Turner’s first-inning home run holds up in series-opening game

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis jumped out to an early lead by virtue of Trent Turner's three-run home run in the first inning and Tigers' pitching held off Georgia Southern to claim a 5-2 win to open the series Friday night at FedExPark. The Tigers (6-2) have won five straight games and will go for a second consecutive series win Saturday at 2 p.m.

Alex Hicks made his first start of the season and pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs and striking out a career high eight batters. The sophomore right-hander was dominant at times, striking out five straight batters looking at one point. Hicks froze the last batter of the first inning, then struck out the side in the top of the second and whiffed the first batter of the third.

Turner blasted Memphis into an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. A two-out walk by Chris Carrier started the rally and Alec Trela singled to put two runners on ahead of Turner. The senior infielder rocketed the first pitch he saw over the left-field fence.

Brandon Grudzielanek signaled his return to the lineup with a solo home run to left field in the fourth inning. The blast extended the Memphis lead to 4-0.

Georgia Southern plated a run each in the fifth and sixth innings off of Hicks before his day was ended after 5 2/3 innings and a career high eight strikeouts.

Memphis tacked on one more insurance run in the eighth after Trela doubled to drive in Carrier. Both players finished the night with two hits.

Hunter Smith put together his second straight outing of shutout relief. He pitched 2 1/3 innings and allowed just one hit with four strikeouts. This performance came just days after silencing the Ole Miss Rebels for three hitless innings.

Colton Hathcock cemented himself into the closers role with a fourth straight scoreless outing and save. He pitched a one-hit ninth inning with two strikeouts.