Memphis Falls in American Tournament Opener to USF

Wednesday, May 20

Clearwater, Fla.

2 pm CT

University of Memphis

35-20

USF

33-22-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Memphis	0	2	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	6	10	2
USF	2	3	0	0	2	3	0	0	X	10	12	3

Photo by: Ben Solomon

May 19, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

Elimination game scheduled for Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. (CT)

By: Kevin Rodriguez

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- USF scored seven two-out runs as the Bulls claimed a 10-6 win over Memphis to open the American Athletic Conference Championship at Bright House Field.

The Tigers (35-20) will now play in an elimination game Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. (CT) against the loser of the matchup between No. 1 Houston and No. 8 Cincinnati.

Memphis rallied on several occasions but the team was unable to ever grab a lead in the game.

After USF (33-22-1) scored two runs in the bottom of the first, Memphis answered right back to tie the game, 2-2. Unfortunately the Bulls came right back to retake the lead with three runs in the bottom of the second. Memphis chipped away again to cut it to one run before the Bulls score two in the bottom of the fifth.

Darien Tubbs provided a lift for the Tigers with a two-run triple in the top of the sixth to cut the score to 7-6 but Memphis wouldn't score again in the game. USF scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to seal the win.

USF opened the scoring with two runs on two doubles and a single in the first. A one-out double by second baseman Kevin Merrell started things for the Bulls. He moved to third base on a ground out and scored on an RBI single by catcher Levi Borders. The second run came across on a double by first baseman Buddy Putnam.

Memphis had an immediate answer with two runs to tie the game in the top of the second.

Catcher Carter White started the inning with a single into center field and left fielder Kane Barrow followed it up with a double into the gap in right-center field.

Left fielder Jake Little drove in the Tigers first run with a single into right field and Barrow advanced to third base. Designated hitter Nate Rupiper tied the game up with a fielder's choice groundout.

USF retook the lead with a two-out three-run home run to right field. Gunn had nearly worked out of a jam with runners at second and third before the go-ahead homer.

Memphis third baseman Jacob Elliott worked a walk to start the third inning and moved to second on a single by center fielder Darien Tubbs to put two on with nobody out. With one out first baseman Tucker Tubbs got a run back for the Tigers with an RBI single to left field that plated Elliott. The Tigers left two runners on base to end the inning.

Memphis got another run back in the top of the fifth inning after a couple of errors by the USF shortstop, Kyle Teaf. Second baseman Zach Schritenthal reached when a chopper glanced off Teaf's glove. White singled to put two runners on base before Barrow reached on a fielder's choice groundout. Teaf tried to throw out Schritenthal at third but the throw was errant, allowing him to score.

The Bulls extended their lead to 7-4 with another two-out hit. Gunn had nearly worked out of a jam with runners at second and third before designated hitter Luke Borders hit the two-run single to center field.

Colton Hathcock came out of the bullpen to get the Tigers out of a jam in the fifth. He did that but struggled to start the sixth. He allowed a lead-off walk before Teaf hit a one-out RBI triple to end his day.

Another run came home on the first pitch from reliever Craig Caufield. It was a passed ball that allowed the run to come home. Two singles off of Caufield extended the USF lead out to 10-6. Trey McNickle pitched two scoreless innings to close out the ballgame. He allowed just one hit in the two innings.

Four different Tigers had two hits in the game -- Darien Tubbs, Carter White, Kane Barrow and Brandon Montgomery. Memphis left 10 runners on base in the game.