University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Saint Louis
Tigers Rally In Ninth, Beat Billikens 7-4
Mar 26, 2000 | Baseball
March 26, 2000
St. Louis, Mo. - A four-run surge in the top of the ninth inning helped propel the University of Memphis baseball team (8-16, 2-3) over Saint Louis University (8-13, 2-4) Sunday afternoon, by a score of 7-4. Solid pitching was one of the keys in this afternoon's ballgame, as the Tiger pitching staff combined to allow only four Billiken hits, throughout the entire game.
This time around Saint Louis scored first, as Brandon Shockley grounded out to second but not before driving in Paul Miles to give the Billikens a 1-0 lead going into the top of the fourth. Memphis evened up the score in the top of the fifth, as senior right fielder Wes Crane crossed the plate on a wild pitch and the score was then 1-1, entering the bottom of the fifth. SLU would add three more runs in the top of the sixth, when Adam Shea singled to shallow left field and scored Eric Constable to go up 2-1. John McLaughlin was the next batter and he ripped a double down the right field line to score Nick Steiner and Shea, giving the Billikens a 4-1 lead going into the top of the seventh. Memphis answered right back in the seventh, as senior pitcher/desigated hitter Henry Castor doubled to left and scored Crane from third, making the score 4-2. The Tigers would get one more in the seventh, as senior left fielder Tony Lomeli (pinch-hitting for senior catcher Craig Hopkins) hit into a double-play but still managed to drive in senior left fielder Nate Sams and Memphis trailed 4-3, heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Tigers would explode for four more runs in the top of the ninth, that would prove to be the game winning runs. Sophomore center fielder Paul Reuer, started the scoring rally by reaching on an error by the third baseman, scoring Castor to tie the game at 4. Memphis would score their next run, as junior shortstop Gabe Interiano drew a walk and drove in junior third baseman Tyler Shelton with the bases loaded and the Tigers took the lead, 5-4. The next batter was sophomore second baseman Daniel Uggla, who hit a sacrifice fly to center and scored freshman catcher Ricky Clinton (pinch-hitting for Lomeli) to give Memphis a 6-4 lead. The game winning run came when sophomore first baseman Jay Fik hit a single to shallow left field, driving in Reuer to make the score 7-4 and give Memphis the lead going into the bottom of the ninth. The Billikens first three batters were shot down in order however, with the last two outs coming on a "old-fashioned" 6-4-3 double-play.
Sams led all Tiger batters, going 2-for-4 with two singles while scoring a run. Fik who had the game-winning hit, went 2-for-5 with two singles and an RBI.
Castor got the win for Memphis (3-3), going four and a third innings, allowing three runs on two hits while walking two. Junior pitcher Jarod Wilson was the starter and allowed only one run on two hits while walking none and striking out one. Senior closer Sean Carlson worked 2/3 of an inning and didn't allow a run or a hit while walking only one. Carlson earned his second save of the year in today's win and actually picked up his first save during yesterday's contest. Originally Carlson wasn't given credit for the save in Saturday's win but after further review, the ruling was changed.
For the Billikens, it was Wes Jaillet (1-4) absorbing the loss, going two and a third innings, allowing four runs on two hits while walking three and striking out two.
This weekends victories marks the first two Conference USA wins of the season for Memphis and the first conference series they have won thus far.
The Tigers will now travel to Murray, Kentucky to take on the Thoroughbreds of Murray State on Tuesday March 28th, at 2 p.m.
