University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
7-3
Georgia Southern
5-6
Memphis Takes Series with Wild 9-8 Win
Mar 05, 2017 | Baseball
The Tigers scored nine in the first and held on for the win
The Tigers nine-run second inning saw 15 batters come to the plate. The Tigers had six hits in the inning and the Eagles committed three errors. In all, the entire first inning lasted a total of 54 minutes.
Zach Schritenthal started the game by reaching on an error before Brandon Grudzielanek smashed a two-run home run to left field to give the Tigers the 2-1 lead.
Andy Bowman and Alec Trela worked back-to-back one-out walks and Trent Turner followed up with an RBI double to right field. Nick Vaage continued the hit parade with an RBI single to center field to make the score 4-1 and end the starting pitcher's day.
Things didn't get any better for the Eagles after the pitching change. Jason Santana reached on an error that allowed Turner to score. Then Carlos Williams slashed a double to left field to drive in two more runs. Schritenthal went back-to-back with an RBI double of his own.
The third error of the frame kept the inning alive before Andy Bowman got involved and drove in another run with a single to make the score 9-1.
Georgia Southern chipped away throughout the game, scoring a run in the third, two in the fifth, three in the seventh and one in the eighth.
Memphis starter Connor Alexander pitched 5 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and got the win. Colton Hathcock came out of the bullpen and picked up his fifth save of the season.
The play of the day came in the eighth inning when Williams, who started the game in center field but later moved to left, made a leaping catch and slammed into the wall to rob Georgia Southern of a go-ahead three-run home run.
Memphis will continue its home stand, hosting Middle Tennessee for a pair of midweek games. The Tigers host the Blue Raiders Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Alexander, Connor (2-1)
L: Chase Cohen (0-1)
S: Hathcock, Colton (5)
Batting:
2B: Mason McWhorter 1 ; Tyler Martin 1
HR: Ryan Cleveland 1
RBI: Ryan Cleveland 2 ; Mason McWhorter 2 ; Tyler Martin 3 ; Luke Berryhill 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Steven Curry 2 ; Mitchell Golden 1 ; Ryan Cleveland 2 ; Mason McWhorter 1 ; Tyler Martin 1 ; C.J. Brazil 1
HBP: Mason McWhorter 1
Batting:
2B: Schritenthal, Zach 1 ; Turner, Trent 1 ; Williams, Carlos 1
HR: Grudzielanek, Brandon 1
RBI: Schritenthal, Zach 1 ; Grudzielanek, Brandon 2 ; Bowman, Andy 1 ; Turner, Trent 1 ; Vaage, Nick 1 ; Santana, Jason 1 ; Williams, Carlos 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Schritenthal, Zach 2 ; Grudzielanek, Brandon 1 ; Bowman, Andy 1 ; Trela, Alec 1 ; Turner, Trent 1 ; Vaage, Nick 1 ; Santana, Jason 1 ; Williams, Carlos 1
SB: Williams, Carlos 1
HBP: Trela, Alec 1 ; Williams, Carlos 1
