Tigers Ride Seven-Run Inning to Win at Cincinnati

Friday, March 31

Cincinnati, Ohio

5:00 PM

University of Memphis

17-8, 1-0

Cincinnati

12-13, 0-1

Memphis

Cincinnati

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Mar 31, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

Memphis picks up series-opening win over Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Memphis scored seven runs in the third inning and Alex Hicks tossed a career-high 7 2/3 innings to lead Memphis to a 7-5 win over Cincinnati to open American Athletic Conference play Friday at Marge Schott Stadium. The Tigers (17-8, 1-0 AAC) will go for their first series win over the Bearcats (12-13, 0-1 AAC) since 2004 Saturday at 3 p.m. (CT).

Hicks allowed an unearned run in the first inning and two runs in the third but then allowed just one base runner from the fourth through the seventh innings. The sophomore got into a little trouble in the eighth but ended up with his fourth win of the season after his career-long outing.

Memphis played from behind again after allowing an unearned run in the first inning. The Tigers have been successful playing from behind though, improving to 10-3 when the opponent scores in the first inning.

After not having a base runner through the first two innings, Memphis blew things open in the top of the third. It all started when the Tigers loaded the bases with nobody out.

Zach Schritenthal worked a leadoff walk before Jason Santana singled for the first hit of the game. Colton Neel put down a bunt to advance the runners and beat the play out to load the bases.

After the first out, Brandon Grudzielanek singled to right-center to tie the game up 1-1. Andy Bowman drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to left field.

With two outs the Tigers really went to work. Alec Trela ripped a singled to left to make the score 3-1. Trent Turner hammered a double off the wall in left field to drive in two more before Chris Carrier blasted a two-run home run to make the score 7-1.

Cincinnati answered right back to trim the lead some, scoring two runs on a two-out single to left field that cut the lead to 7-3.

Cincinnati cut into the Memphis lead with a pair of runs in the eighth inning. Hicks started the inning and got the first two outs but an RBI double brought home the first run of the inning but a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases.

Memphis turned to Blake Bennett out of the bullpen and he hit the first batter he faced to cut the lead to 7-5. Bennett was able to get out of the inning with a groundout though and a lead intact.

Colton Hathcock pitched a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout to earn his ninth save of the season.

The Tigers had several multiple-hit performances in the game. Grudzielanek was 3-for-5, and Carrier, Santana and Nell were all 2-for-4.