Memphis Narrowly Falls in Opener at Cincinnati

Friday, April 22

Cincinnati, Ohio

5:00 PM

University of Memphis

13-25, 4-6

Cincinnati

19-20, 7-3

Memphis

Cincinnati

Photo by: Michael Gardner

Apr 22, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

Colton Hathcock is tough-luck loser, allowing one run in 6 1/3 innings

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Directly following a 40-minute delay in the middle of the sixth inning, Cincinnati hit a pair of doubles to score one run on the way to a 1-0 win over Memphis Friday night in the series opener between the two teams. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m. (CT).

Memphis dropped to 13-25 and 4-6 in American Athletic Conference play while Cincinnati improved to 19-20 and remained in first place with a 7-3 league record.

Starting pitcher Colton Hathcock was solid, allowing just the one run in 6 1/3 innings pitched. The sophomore had to work out of jams early in the game before allowing the lone run following the delay.

Hathcock was outdueled by Cincinnati starter Andrew Zellner, who tossed his third complete game of the season.

Shortstop Brandon Grudzielanek was 2-for-4 and was the only Tiger with multiple hits in the game.

Both teams had chances to score early but combined to leave eight runners on base through the first three scoreless innings of the ballgame.

In the first inning Darien Tubbs worked a one-out walk and stole second base but he was stranded there. Cincinnati then loaded the bases in the bottom half but Hathcock was able to get out of the jam without allowing the Bearcats to open the scoring.

Brandon Grudzielanek and Andy Bowman started the second inning with back-to-back singles but the Tigers couldn't get a run across in the inning. Zach Schritenthal doubled with one out in the third inning but was stranded.

The Bearcats then threatened again in the bottom of the third with two runners in scoring position with one out but couldn't score.

Both starting pitchers would settle in from there, each tossing perfect fourth and fifth innings.

The first pitch from Hathcock following the delay was lined to left field for a double by Connor McVey. With one out, Treg Haberkorn drove in McVey with a double of his own.

The Tigers got a runner into scoring position in the top of the seventh after singles by Grudzielanek and Colton Neel but couldn't get the tying run across the plate.

Drew Crosby entered to pitch Memphis out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh inning and the sophomore lefty was able to get two outs to strand two runners. Crosby then pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

Memphis had a golden opportunity to at least tie the game up in the bottom of the eighth inning. Pinch-hitter Chris Carrier singled to start the inning and was pinch-run for by freshman Alex Smith. Schritenthal reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt to put two runners on with nobody out.

A pair of base-running mistakes cost the Tigers the chance to score in the inning though. In both the seventh and eighth innings the Tigers had the tying run thrown out at the plate.