Memphis Wins Home Run Fest 13-12 over Tulane

Thursday, May 18

Memphis, Tenn.

6:30 PM

University of Memphis

29-25, 8-14

Tulane

25-29, 11-11

Tulane

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

May 18, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

Tigers and Green Wave combine for nine home runs Thursday

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The third weekend of May in Memphis is normally reserved for the annual "Barbecue Festival", but Thursday night at FedExPark Memphis and Tulane held their own "Home Run Festival," as the Tigers outslugged the Green Wave for a 13-12 win.

The Tigers (29-25, 8-14 AAC) bashed four home runs, two of them by first baseman Trent Turner, while the Green Wave (25-29, 11-11 AAC) sent five long-balls over the outfield fence.

Memphis did the majority of its damage in the middle innings, scoring five in the fourth and six in the fifth to jump out to an 11-5 lead before having to hang on for the slim one-run victory.

Drew Crosby started for Memphis, pitching 6 1/3 innings and striking out six batters. He picked up the win and improved to 6-3 on the season.

Connor Alexander recorded a first in his career, coming out of the bullpen in the ninth to pitch a scoreless inning and earn the save. He struck out Tulane center fielder Grant Brown, who had already homered twice Thursday, to end the game.

Tulane scored the first five runs of the game, including three solo home runs in the top of the third to go up 5-0.

Memphis exploded for five runs in the fourth inning to knot the game up 5-5. The Tigers sent eight men to the plate in the inning and blasted a pair of homers.

Turner started things with his first homer of the game, a solo shot to left field. Alec Trela then singled and Zach Schritenthal walked to put two runners on. Andy Bowman followed with a two-run double to left-center field.

Tyler Webb tied the game up when he smacked the second homer of the inning, a two-run shot, to make the score 5-5.

The Tigers were right back at it in the fifth inning, scoring six more runs to take an 11-5 lead. Memphis loaded the bases after Turner singled, Trela doubled and Schritenthal walked.

With two outs the Tigers went to work. Jason Santana walked to drive in a run and Colton Neel singled to left to score two more runs. Two more walks drove in another run and reloaded the bases before an error allowed two more runs to score.

Tulane cut into the lead with four runs in the top of the seventh off of Crosby and reliever Ryan Garner. Taylor Bobo came into the game and was able to get out of the inning but the lead was trimmed to 11-9.

The Tigers extended the lead out to 13-9 with back-to-back homers from Carrier and Turner.

The Green Wave stormed right back though with three more runs in the eight off of relievers Bobo and Alex Smith. Hunter Smith came into the game with the bases loaded and nobody out and was able to get out of the jam with the slim lead intact.

Alexander was called on for the top of the ninth and managed to strike out the side around a double and a walk to secure the win.

Memphis will go for the series win over Tulane Friday at 6:30 p.m. at FedExPark. Prior to Saturday's 1 p.m. series finale the Tigers will honor their six seniors – Andy Bowman, Chris Carrier, Ryan Garner, Brandon Grudzielanek, Zach Schritenthal and Trent Turner.