Memphis Loses Late on Senior Day

Saturday, May 20

Memphis, Tenn.

1:00 PM

University of Memphis

29-27, 8-16

Tulane

27-29, 13-11

Tulane

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

May 20, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score VIDEO: POSTGAME INTERVIEW

Tulane hits game-winning homer in the ninth

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Tulane hit a two-run, go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth to beat Memphis 6-5 and win the series Saturday at FedExPark. The Tigers (29-27, 8-16 AAC) head into the American Athletic Conference tournament as the No. 7 seed and will face No. 2 Houston on Wednesday at 10 a.m. (CT) at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Fla.

Before the game Memphis honored its six seniors in their final game at FedExPark – Andy Bowman, Chris Carrier, Ryan Garner, Brandon Grudzielanek, Zach Schritenthal and Trent Turner.

Memphis scored two runs in the seventh to take a 5-4 lead and held that lead until two outs in the top of the ninth. Pinch-hitter Matt Rowland hit a two-run homer off of Blake Bennett to win the game.

Carrier was 1-for-4 with two RBI and extended his hitting-streak to 18 games. Fellow seniors Turner and Schritenthal each had two hits in the game.

Danny Denz started on the mound for Memphis and pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out six batters. Connor Alexander pitched two perfect innings of relief and Colton Neel worked a scoreless eighth inning out of the bullpen.

Tulane left fielder Lex Kaplan started the game with a solo home run for the second straight day to give the Green Wave a 1-0 lead. The Green Wave scored two more in the third inning after a single, a double, a balk and an RBI groundout.

Memphis rallied back to tie it up 3-3 in the fourth after loading the bases with one out. Grudzielanek drove in a run with a sacrifice fly before Carrier smashed a two-run double off the wall in left field.

Tulane took the lead right back though in the top of the fifth after a leadoff walk and an errant pickoff throw that allowed the runner to go to third base. An RBI groundout made the score 4-3.

The Tigers took their first lead of the game after Alec Trela started the bottom of the seventh inning with a walk. Schritenthal singled to right field and Trela headed to third base and that forced a throw by the Tulane right fielder. The throw got away and Trela scampered home to tie the game.

Schritenthal advanced to third on the errant throw and then Carlos Williams drove him in with a squeeze bunt to make the score 5-4.