Big Inning and Clutch Pitching Lead to Win at A State

Wednesday, April 11

Jonesboro, Ark.

6:30 p.m.

University of Memphis

11-23

Arkansas State

11-18

Memphis

Arkansas State

Photo by: Michael Stires

Big Inning and Clutch Pitching Lead to Win at A State

Apr 11, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score

Tigers sweep the series with Red Wolves

JONESBORO, Ark. – Memphis scored five runs in the third inning and got clutch pitching on the way to a 6-3 win over Arkansas State Wednesday night at Tomlinson Stadium. The Tigers (11-23, 1-8 AAC) sweep the season series with the Red Wolves for the first time since the 2015 season.

Memphis, winners of back-to-back games for just the third time this season, will welcome Baylor to FedExPark for a three-game series this weekend.

Connor Alexander put together his best outing of the season, starting and pitching five innings and allowing just two runs on seven hits. He struck out three batters and issued no walks to pick up his first win of the season.

Nick Vaage had a big day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI. Vaage had one of the Tigers' four doubles in the game. Kyle Ouellette and Josh Rooker also put together multiple-hit games.

The teams were scoreless after two innings until Memphis blew the game open with five unearned runs in the top of the third inning. Ben Brooks started the inning with a walk, but the big moment of the inning was an errant throw that allowed Colton Neel to reach base and move both runners into scoring position. Alec Trela drove in the game's first run with an RBI groundout.

After the second out was recorded, Memphis produced three-straight hits to make it a big inning. Ouellette hit an RBI single to right field to make the score 2-0. Vaage doubled the lead with a two-run double over the right fielder's head and Rooker capped the inning off with an RBI double.

Arkansas State cut into the Tigers' lead with two runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth. The Red Wolves used four well-placed singles in the inning, but Alexander managed to limit the damage by stranding two runners.

Alexander was able to bounce-back and pitch a scoreless fifth inning to end his day. Hunter Smith was the first man out of the bullpen and he pitched two scoreless frames in relief with three strikeouts.

Memphis tacked on an insurance run in the eighth after Hennemann doubled and Vaage drove him in with an RBI single to center.

Arkansas State got the run right back in the eighth and threatened to score more, but Memphis quickly turned to Alex Smith out of the bullpen. The junior lefty got the Tigers out of the jam without any more damage done. Smith finished off the ninth inning to record his first career save.