University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Tulane
Baseball Eliminated by #6 Green Wave, 7-2
May 19, 2001 | Baseball
May 19, 2001
METAIRIE, La. - The University of Memphis Tiger baseball team ended it's 2001 season, falling to the 6th ranked Green Wave of Tulane 7-2 on Saturday evening.
After cruising through the first two rounds of the 2001 FedEx C-USA tournament, the U of M fell to Tulane twice on Saturday by counts of 7-6 and 7-2, meaning that unfortunately the Tigers season had come to an end.
The Tigers finished the 2001 season with an overall mark of 34-24 which marks the most wins achieved by a Memphis squad since the 1994 finished 52-11. Coach Dave Anderson's first season was a marked improvement, as his Tiger team more than doubled last season's 15-37 mark and also posted five more conference wins (13-14) than last season (8-18). This year's squad is also the first Memphis team to ever advance to the semi-final round, since the conference tournament began back in 1996.
Tyler Shelton's final game included an RBI single that was fitting for his senior season, as the senior third baseman was key with runners in scoring position, all season long. Barrett Smith (White Station HS) finished with his 14th double on the season
Jarod Wilson pitched five solid innings in final outing on the mound, fanning five of the 23 batters he faced.
Wilson began the bottom of the first by hitting Jon Kaplan but then proceeded to fan the next two before James Jurries stroked a single to center which scored Kaplan from second after he had stolen the base just two pitches earlier, and Tulane led early, 1-0. But in the top of the second, Memphis knotted the game at one after Shelton singled up the middle, which scored Smith who had previously doubled to left-centerfield.
Then in the fourth, Justin Thomas's (Briarcrest HS) double followed by Ryan O'Malley's triple to left-center gave the Tigers a little more room to breathe, moving ahead 2-1. The lead didn't last as the Green Wave countered with three more runs , the last two coming after Scott Madden singled in Anthony Giarratano and Jay Heintz, for the 4-2 lead. Tulane then jumped ahead by two more when Micheal Aubrey's triple plated Jurries and then a batter later, Matt Groff brought Aubrey around for the 6-4 lead after six-and-a-half.
Then in the seventh, Jake Gautrau's single through the right-side scored Kaplan for the seventh run, which put the Wave up large, 7-2 for good.
"My first season was definitely a learning experience but it was also a great experience all around," said Head Coach Dave Anderson. "I was very proud of the way the seniors pulled this team together and helped us achieve our goals. I am looking forward to next season and the improvements that this team will make. With our conference adding two more good teams (Eastern Carolina University and TCU), the conference will get that much better and it will be that much more difficult to get into postseason play."
"It was a fun and eventful year," said Daniel Uggla. "It was a great time. We're just looking forward to a great year next season, but unfortunately this season just didn't work out. Still, we had a great ride and it should only get better."
"I wanted to prove to myself and my teammates that I could contribute to this team," said Gabe Interiano. "I was pleased with the way the season turned out unfortunately it ended a little sooner than we would have liked but it was a great run."
"We played higher than most peoples expectations," said Smith. "We've shown people that we're no longer just a doormat in this league and that we can play with anybody....we come to play."
