Memphis Falls to Cincinnati in Extra Innings

Thursday, May 19

FedExPark

6:30 PM

University of Memphis

18-36, 8-14

Cincinnati

25-27-1, 12-9-1

Cincinnati

Memphis

Photo by: Michael Gardner

May 19, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

Alex Hicks starts and tosses career-high 6 1/3 innings

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Cincinnati second baseman Kyle Mottice hit a two-run home run off of Drew Crosby in the top of the 10^th inning to take the opening game of the series over Memphis, 4-2, Thursday night at FedExPark.

Memphis (18-36, 8-14 American) tied the game up, 2-2, in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI single by Trent Turner to score Brandon Grudzielanek and send the game into extra-innings.

The Tigers only other run came in the bottom of the first inning when they snagged the lead after a two-out double by Jake Little and an RBI single by Jacob Elliott to drive him in.

Cincinnati answered right back with back-to-back two-out hits of their own to tie the game up 1-1.

The Bearcats grabbed a 2-1 lead on two more singles in the top of the third inning.

From there Alex Hicks was brilliant, tossing a career high 6 1/3 innings pitched and striking out a career high five batters. The true freshman scattered eight hits and walked just one batter.

Colton Hathcock pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief with three strikeouts to keep the Bearcats off the board.

In the eighth inning Memphis had what would have been a go-ahead three-run homer by Little robbed at the wall in left field to end the frame.

There would be no robbery in the bottom of the ninth though as the Tigers did tie the game up on Turner's RBI single.

The Tigers squandered a career-high tying five-hit day by Darien Tubbs. The junior center fielder had five singles but no RBI or runs scored. His final hit of the game came in the bottom of the 10th when two runners got on base with one out but the Tigers couldn't score.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m. at FedExpark.