University of Memphis Athletics
Saturday, March 11
Memphis, Tenn.
12:00 PM
University of Memphis
8-6
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vs
3
Southern Illinois
8-6
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7
8
9
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H
E
Southern Illinois
0
0
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Memphis
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Photo by: Matthew Smith
Memphis Loses Late to Even Series with SIU
Mar 11, 2017 | Baseball
Southern Illinois used a ninth-inning rally to win 3-2
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis had the tables turned on them Saturday at FedExPark. Just hours after beating Southern Illinois on a walk-off home run, the Salukis returned the favor with a ninth-inning rally to win 3-2 and even the series. After a pair of one-run games, Memphis (8-6) and SIU (8-6) will play the exciting rubber match Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Tigers took a 2-1 lead to the ninth inning and handed the ball to junior Colton Hathcock to pitch on consecutive days for the first time in his career. With two outs and two runners on, SIU first baseman Logan Blackfan lined a go-ahead double to right field.
Memphis had a chance to come right back in the bottom of the ninth, but it was Blackfan that prevented the rally. The Tigers had two runners on and one out when Colton Neel smacked a liner that was caught by a diving Blackfan, who then doubled off Jason Santana to end the game.
Starting pitcher Drew Crosby recovered well from a shaky start to the game. He got out of jams in the first and second inning and went on to pitch 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits and three walks. He struck out a career-high seven batters.
Memphis was advantageous in taking the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Neel worked a one-out walk, stole second base and moved to third on a groundout. A fielding error by the SIU shortstop allowed Neel to score from third base, giving Memphis a 1-0 lead.
SIU tied the game up 1-1 in the fifth after a leadoff triple scored on a sacrifice fly.
Memphis jumped back in front in the eighth on an RBI single by Brandon Grudzielanek. He drove in Neel, who had reached on an error. The Tigers had an opportunity to do more damage in the inning after loading the bases with one out but couldn't cash in.
Reliever Blake Bennett pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit. He struck out one and walked one.
Neel finished 1-for-4 with two runs scored. Santana was the only Tiger with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.
The Tigers took a 2-1 lead to the ninth inning and handed the ball to junior Colton Hathcock to pitch on consecutive days for the first time in his career. With two outs and two runners on, SIU first baseman Logan Blackfan lined a go-ahead double to right field.
Memphis had a chance to come right back in the bottom of the ninth, but it was Blackfan that prevented the rally. The Tigers had two runners on and one out when Colton Neel smacked a liner that was caught by a diving Blackfan, who then doubled off Jason Santana to end the game.
Starting pitcher Drew Crosby recovered well from a shaky start to the game. He got out of jams in the first and second inning and went on to pitch 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits and three walks. He struck out a career-high seven batters.
Memphis was advantageous in taking the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Neel worked a one-out walk, stole second base and moved to third on a groundout. A fielding error by the SIU shortstop allowed Neel to score from third base, giving Memphis a 1-0 lead.
SIU tied the game up 1-1 in the fifth after a leadoff triple scored on a sacrifice fly.
Memphis jumped back in front in the eighth on an RBI single by Brandon Grudzielanek. He drove in Neel, who had reached on an error. The Tigers had an opportunity to do more damage in the inning after loading the bases with one out but couldn't cash in.
Reliever Blake Bennett pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit. He struck out one and walked one.
Neel finished 1-for-4 with two runs scored. Santana was the only Tiger with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gutermuth, Alex (2-0)
L: Hathcock, Colton (1-1)
S: Netemeyer,Ryan (4)
Batting:
2B: Kopach,Connor 1 ; Hutchins,Nick 1 ; Blackfan,Logan 1
3B: Kopach,Connor 1
RBI: Lambert,Greg 1 ; Blackfan,Logan 2
SF: Lambert,Greg 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kopach,Connor 1 ; Smith,Ryan 1 ; Hutchins,Nick 1
SB: Smith,Ryan 1
Batting:
RBI: Grudzielanek, Brandon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Neel, Colton 2
SB: Neel, Colton 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
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LHP
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/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF/LHP
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