Season Ends in 7-5 Loss to UConn

Friday, May 26

Clearwater, Fla.

11:00 AM

University of Memphis

30-29

#3 seed UConn

33-24

UConn

Memphis

Photo by: Travis Pendergrass

May 26, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

Tigers come up just short in elimination game

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Memphis had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the ninth but came up just short in a 7-5 loss to UConn, eliminating the Tigers from the American Athletic Conference Tournament at Spectrum Field. The Tigers end the season with a 30-29 record, marking the sixth season of 30 or more wins in the last seven years.

Memphis had a 5-2 lead before UConn scored three runs in the seventh and two in the eighth to rally for the win. The Huskies' closer John Russell pitched the final 3 1/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

Starting pitcher Drew Crosby tossed 6 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits and three walks. The junior left-hander struck out three batters.

UConn went to work in the top of the fourth inning and took the lead with a pair of runs. The inning started with back-to-back doubles to bring in the first run. A second run came home after an error with the infield playing in.

Memphis stormed back into the game with three runs in the fifth inning to take the lead. Carlos Williams walked with one out and then went to third base on an infield single by Tyler Webb.

The Tigers executed the delayed double steal to bring Williams home for the first run. An errant throw allowed Webb to move to third base with one out.

Brandon Grudzielanek then provided the game-tying hit with an RBI triple off of the wall in center field. Grudzielanek then scored the go-ahead run, coming home on a wild pitch.

Memphis extended the lead in the sixth after four straight singles by the bottom of the Tigers' batting order. Zach Schritenthal legged out an infield single before Colton Neel singled to left.

Williams' speed on the bases was involved yet again as he legged out an infield single and an errant throw allowed Schritenthal to scamper home. Neel was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning.

Jason Santana knocked in Williams with an RBI single to center field to make the score 5-2.

UConn rallied to tie the game up 5-5 with a three-run top of the seventh. A pair of one-out walks and an RBI single ended Crosby's day on the mound. Hunter Smith was called on to come in and pitch and allowed a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to knot the game up 5-5.

The Huskies pulled in front with two runs off of Taylor Bobo in the eighth inning.

Williams finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored for the Tigers' only multiple-hit game.

Carrier went 1-for-4 and ended his career with a 21-game hitting streak. He finished the season with a .330 batting average, 16 doubles and 16 homers.