Tigers Come Up Just Short in Finale Against No. 11 Houston

Saturday, April 15

Memphis, Tenn.

12:00 PM

University of Memphis

21-15, 3-6

Houston

25-10, 6-3

Houston

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Tigers Come Up Just Short in Finale Against No. 11 Houston

Apr 15, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

Memphis held a 7-5 lead before giving up late runs

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis came up just short, 9-8, to No. 11 Houston Saturday in the rubber match of the series at FedExPark. The Tigers (21-15, 3-6 AAC) scored seven runs in the sixth and held a 7-5 lead before Houston countered with four in the seventh to win it.

Memphis starting pitcher Connor Alexander was plagued by one bad inning. The Cougars tagged him for five two-out runs on five hits in the fourth. Alexander allowed just two hits outside of the fourth inning.

Alexander received a no decision after the Tigers managed to fight back though, scoring seven runs in the sixth inning.

Memphis had been held to just three hits through the first five innings of the game before exploding for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Tigers started the inning with three-straight hits on a double by Alec Trela, and back-to-back singles by Trent Turner and Jason Santana.

With two outs the Tigers really went to work. Carlos Williams legged out an infield single to drive in Santana before Houston made a pitching change. Tyler Webb singled and Brandon Grudzielanek walked to load the bases before another pitching change.

Chris Carrier blasted the Tigers into the lead with a grand slam to left field, making the score 7-5.

The lead was short-lived as Houston scored four in the top of the seventh to retake the lead 9-7. In the inning there was an error and three consecutive walks.

Memphis got a run back in the eighth on a two-out solo home run by Webb but that would be it for the Tigers as they went down in order in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.

Webb finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one run driven in. Williams was the only other Tigers player with a multiple-hit game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Memphis will continue its stretch of playing nationally-ranked opponents, travelling to Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks Tuesday in Fayetteville and Wednesday in Little Rock.