University of Memphis Athletics
Memphis Falls, 10-1, in Series Opener at UConn
Apr 24, 2015 | Baseball
Storrs, Conn. -- Memphis was held down by UConn starting pitcher Carson Cross as the Tigers dropped the series opener, 10-1, to the Huskies Friday at J.O. Christian Field. Game Two is scheduled for Saturday at 12:00 p.m. central time.
Third baseman Zach Schritenthal got Memphis out to an early lead with his first career home run, a solo shot to right field, in the top of the first inning. The Tigers couldn't build on Schritenthal's early homer as they had just five other base runners in the game.
Wallingford worked a perfect bottom of the first inning, retiring the Huskies in order despite a few hard-hit balls. Things changed drastically for the Tigers' left-handed starter after the first.
UConn grabbed the lead from Memphis in the bottom of the second after a double and a walk started the inning. Designated hitter Joe Deroche-Duffin gave the Huskies the lead with a two-run double off the wall in left-center field.
With one out in the fourth Wallingford walked a batter and hit a batter to put two runners on. The inning looked like it was going to be over but a pop fly that would have been the third out was dropped by Darien Tubbs to allow to runs to score.
UConn added to its lead with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth before scoring four more runs on six hits in the seventh.
Wallingford managed to pitch six innings for the Tigers and allowed six runs, four earned. Drew Crosby pitched the final two innings for Memphis.
Carson Cross tossed seven innings and allowed the one run on four hits with two walks. He struck out six batters in the game. Samuel Nepiarsky tossed two perfect innings in relief.
Nate Rupiper, Jake Little and Brandon Montgomery were the only other Memphis players with hits in the game.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: CROSS, Carson (8-2)
L: Wallingford, Caleb (3-6)

Batting:
HR: Schritenthal, Zach 1
RBI: Schritenthal, Zach 1
SH: Montgomery, Brandon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Schritenthal, Zach 1
SB: Tubbs, Darien 1

Batting:
2B: DAVEY, Blake 2 ; McDOWELL, Max 1 ; DEROCHE-DUFFIN, Joe 1
HR: DEROCHE-DUFFIN, Joe 1
RBI: DAVEY, Blake 2 ; McDOWELL, Max 1 ; DEROCHE-DUFFIN, Joe 5
Base Running:
RUNS: SIENA, Vinny 1 ; MELLEY, Bobby 2 ; DAVEY, Blake 2 ; McDOWELL, Max 2 ; DEROCHE-DUFFIN, Joe 2 ; DANIELLO, Bryan 1
SB: TESTANI, Jon 1
HBP: DEROCHE-DUFFIN, Joe 1 ; YAHN, Willy 1