Baseball Edged, 10-9, in Slugfest at UL-Monroe

Wednesday, March 10

Monroe, La.

6:30 PM

University of Memphis

4-8

Louisiana-Monroe

6-5

Memphis

UL-Monroe

Mar 10, 2010 | Baseball

Box Score

March 10, 2010

Box Score

MONROE, La. -

UL-Monroe 10, Memphis 9

Memphis (4-8)       200 012 220 -  9 16 3
UL-Monroe (6-5)     000 700 12x - 10 12 2

After overcoming a five-run deficit to take a one-run lead, Memphis surrendered and two-run home run in the bottom of the eight and then had the game-tying run thrown out at the plate to end the game and fall 10-9 to UL-Monroe in non-conference action Wednesday evening at Warhawk Field.

Trailing by one run with two outs in the top of the ninth, DH Robby Graham extended the game with a single off ULM closer, Will Browning's leg. Freshman Derrick Thomas stepped to the plate and lined a double to the right centerfield gap. Graham raced around third and headed for home. However, the Warhawk's relay from rightcenter to the plate was on time and catcher Jarrett Hammond was able to apply the tag to end the game.

Memphis led 9-8 with two outs in the eight, but Monroe third baseman Nick Wade blasted a two-run homer over the leftfield wall to make it 10-9.

Down 7-2 after four innings, the Tigers mounted a furious comeback that saw them score a run in the fifth, and two each in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to take the one-run advantage. A sac fly by Jacob Wilson in the fifth scored Chad Zurcher to make it 7-3 and Drew Martinez's two-run triple in the sixth cut the deficit to two runs in the sixth.

The Memphis offense continued to fight in the seventh behind consecutive doubles by Wilson and Adam McClain, and an RBI-single from Phillip Chapman. Chapman's single made it 7-6.

Martinez drew a two-out walk in the eighth and scored his second run of the night on a game-tying single to center off the bat of Tyler Huelsing. Monroe was unable to make a play on a towering pop up by Wilson and Zurcher was allowed to come around to score to give the Tigers a 9-8 cushion.

The Tigers out-hit the Warhawks 16-12. Every Memphis batter recorded at least one hit. Huelsing, Wilson, McClain, Chapman, Wiedman and Thomas had two hits each. The middle of the U of M lineup went 10-for-23 with six RBI in the contest. Martinez, Wilson and Chapman drove in two runs each.

Memphis got a gutsy pitching performance from reliever Chase Joiner. The right-hander fanned five in 3.1 innings of work. He held the ULM offense at bay while the Tiger offense chipped away at its five-run deficit. Senior Marc Ashley was the losing pitcher after giving up two runs on two hits in an inning of relief.

Browning benefitted from the late-game homer to pick up the win. The sidearm right-hander was touched for two runs on five hits in two innings.

Memphis will now prepare for a tough weekend series versus Dallas Baptist on Friday and Saturday.