University of Memphis
Charlotte
49er Pitching Silences Tiger Bats; Memphis Falls 5-2
Apr 01, 2000 | Baseball
April 1, 2000
Memphis, TN - After getting only six hits (one more than yesterday's total), the University of Memphis baseball team (8-19, 2-5) fell again at the hands of the Forty-Niners of UNC Charlotte (19-11-1, 4-4) on Saturday afternoon, losing 5-2 for the second straight time.
UNC Charlotte once again scored two quick runs to start the game and took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the first. Memphis would get a run of their own in the bottom of the fifth, as senior first baseman Nate Sams hit a solo blast over the wall in left-center (sixth of the year) and the Tigers trailed 2-1, going into the sixth. The Forty-Niners got two more insurance runs in the top of the eighth, when Eric Shanks hit a solo home run over the left field wall, scoring Mike Taylor and giving UNC Charlotte a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the inning. UNCC would add one more in the ninth, taking a 5-1 lead into the bottom half of the inning. Memphis would grab a run in the ninth, as senior designated hitter Henry Castor singled to score junior shortstop Gabe Interiano from third and the Tigers narrowed the gap 5-2. From there on the Forty-Niners closed the door and wrapped up their second win of the weekend over the Tigers.
Sams paced Memphis, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk while scoring a run and getting one RBI. Senior catcher Craig Hopkins (Houston H.S.) went 1-for-2, with a single and a walk in the loss.
Picking up his third loss of the year was junior pitcher Jason Wiedmeyer (2-3), who went six full before giving up two unearned runs on five hits while walking three and fanning six. Relieving Wiedmeyer in the sixth was junior pitcher Layne Dawson, going two full innings and allowing two earned runs on four hits while walking and striking out one. Senior closer Sean Carlson came on in the ninth and faced five batters, allowing one earned run one two hits while striking out one.
The winning pitcher for UNC Charlotte was Ryan Baker. Baker (5-4) went eight-and-a-third, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits while walking and fanning three, in the win.
These two teams will meet again tomorrow, in the finale of a three-game Conference USA series. The first pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Nat Buring Stadium. Memphis will be looking to avoid a sweep and stop a three-game losing skid tomorrow.
