Memphis Drops Pitching Duel in Series Opener

Friday, March 4

Statesboro, Ga.

6:00 PM

University of Memphis

4-4

Georgia Southern

6-4

Memphis

Georgia Southern

Mar 04, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

Georgia Southern pitchers held the Tigers to two hits

STATESBORO, Ga. – Memphis dropped a close game, 3-2, in the series opener to Georgia Southern in which the Tigers were held to just two hits in the ballgame. Starting pitcher Colton Hathcock logged another quality start, allowing three runs in six innings, but was credited with the loss.

The Tigers' hits came form center fielder Darien Tubbs, who lined an RBI single to left field in the sixth and first baseman Trent Turner, who hit is first career home run in the eighth.

Georgia Southern grabbed an early lead on three singles in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, the Eagles got back-to-back singles and got them both in scoring position after a fielder's choice and a stolen base.

The first run came home on a perfectly placed infield single down the third base line by catcher Matt Anderson. Hathcock walked a batter to load the bases but was able to get a strikeout to get out of the jam.

Memphis got its first base runner of the game in the top of the fourth when Jake Little reached on a two-base error by the right fielder. Little moved to third on a wild pitch but he was stranded there.

The Eagles added to their lead in the fourth after Hathcock issued a four-pitch walk to open the frame and a single put two runners on with nobody out. An errant pickoff throw allowed both runners to advance with nobody out.

A groundout to second base scored one run and an RBI sacrifice bunt made the score 3-0.

Memphis finally got its first hit and run of the game in the sixth. Catcher Jason Santana reached on the second error by the Georgia Southern right fielder and this time the Tigers were able to make the Eagles pay.

Following a walk by shortstop Jake Overbey, Tubbs broke up the no-hitter and drove in the first run of the game with a single to left field that scored Santana.

Memphis had two runners on with nobody out but was unable to do anymore damage as Overbey was picked off of second for the first out of the inning.

Freshman Hunter Smith went to the mound in the seventh inning to make his collegiate debut and he worked around a hit batter to toss a scoreless inning.

Trent Turner crushed a solo home run to left field to start the eighth inning that cut the lead to 3-2. The home run was the first of his Memphis career and just the second hit of the ballgame for the Tigers.

Drew Crosby pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth and struck out the side around a walk.