Memphis Advances to Semifinals with 4-1 win over USF

Friday, May 22

Clearwater, Fla.

10 am CT

University of Memphis

37-20

USF

33-24-1

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

Photo by: Ben Solomon

Memphis Advances to Semifinals with 4-1 win over USF

May 22, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

Dylan Toscano tossed eight innings to lead the Tigers

By: Kevin Rodriguez

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- With their backs against the wall yet again, the Memphis Tigers came through with a 4-1 win over USF to advance to the semifinals of the American Baseball Championship. The Tigers will play the top-seeded Houston Cougars Saturday at 9:00 a.m. (CT).

Starting pitcher Dylan Toscano did everything he could to keep Memphis in the game through the first five innings. The senior right-hander allowed just one run and worked out of several jams in the early innings. He worked eight complete innings and finished with five strikeouts. He improved to 9-2 with the win.

The Tigers were being shut out for the first five innings but senior first baseman Tucker Tubbs gave the team life with a his 17th home run to lead off the sixth inning.

Memphis was full of life after the home run and grabbed the lead on some great base running in the inning.

With Carter White at second base and one out after a single, Brandon Montgomery hit a fielder's choice ground out. White got into a rundown between second and third base that allowed Montgomery to advance to second. Time out wasn't given on the play so Montgomery took third base without a throw and then scampered home for the go-ahead run. The freshman second baseman provided one of the most exciting plays of the season and gave the Tigers the lead.

After Memphis tacked on insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings, Nolan Blackwood slammed the door with his 14 save of the season. The save was a milestone for Blackwood as he broke the Memphis record for saves in a season.

USF grabbed the lead with their only run in the third inning. After a pair of singles to start the inning, a sacrifice fly scored the run. Toscano did well to limit the damage in the inning.

The Tigers added a run in the seventh after Jake Overbey worked a lead-off walk off of USF closer Tommy Peterson. Darien Tubbs sacrificed Overbey to second and Zach Schritenthal singled to center field to drive him in.

With two outs in the eighth Memphis got another run. Nate Rupiper legged out an infield single and was pinch-run for by Carlos Williams. The freshman speedster, Williams, swiped second base on the next pitch and scored on a single by Overbey.

Rupiper was 3-for-4 in the game, while Darien Tubbs, Schritenthal and White were each 2-for-4.

The Tigers' next opponent, Houston, beat Cincinnati and USF to advance to the semifinals without dropping a game. If the Tigers knock off the Cougars in Saturday's early game, the two teams will play again that afternoon at 3:30 p.m. (CT).