Tigers Ride Five-Run Sixth to 8-3 Win over USF

Friday, April 8

Tampa, Fla.

5:30 PM

University of Memphis

11-18, 0

USF

15-15, 0

Memphis

South Florida

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Apr 08, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

Colton Hathcock earns third straight win

TAMPA, Fla. – Memphis scored five runs in the sixth inning on the way to an 8-3 win over USF in the series opener Friday at USF Baseball Stadium. All nine Memphis starters had at least one hit in the game and the Tigers got outstanding production from the bottom of the order.

The Tigers will go for the series win Saturday at 5:30 p.m. (CT). Memphis has won three straight series openers despite failing to win the previous two series.

The game marked the first time all nine starters had a hit since a game against UAB in 2013.

Memphis starter Colton Hathcock recorded his third straight win after pitching six innings and allowing just two runs on three hits. He struck out a season-high eight batters.

Right fielder Jake Little made a huge play to keep USF off the board early in the game. Little leaped at the wall to rob the Bulls' Coco Montes of a solo home run that would have opened the scoring in the bottom of the first.

Freshman left fielder Colton Neel then gave Memphis a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when he hit his first career home run. The homer was a no-doubt blast to right field.

Memphis added to its lead in the fourth inning after back-to-back singles by Jacob Elliott and Trent Turner put runners on the corners. A passed ball allowed Elliott to scamper home and make the score 3-0.

USF got on the board after starting the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back singles through the left side of the infield. The Tigers allowed a pop up to fall in with the infield fly rule in effect that advanced both runners into scoring position. A sacrifice fly brought home the first run and a two-out single made the score 3-2.

Elliott smashed a solo homer over the foul pole in right field to extend the Memphis lead to 4-2 in the top of the sixth but the Tigers weren't done in the inning.

Memphis went on to score five runs in the sixth after hits by Turner, DeMatteo, Schritenthal, Tubbs and Grudzielanek. The hit by Grudzielanek drove in two runs to cap off the inning and make the lead 8-2.

Alex Hicks entered to pitch the seventh and quickly got the first out before a hit batter and a walk ended his day. Trey McNickle came in from the bullpen with one out and runners on the corners and USF greeted him with an RBI single to right field. The senior was able to get a fly out and a groundout to get out of the jam though.

Nolan Blackwood pitched the final two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two.