Bowlan Leads Memphis to 7-2 Win Over Baylor

Saturday, April 14

Memphis, Tenn.

3 p.m.

University of Memphis

12-24

Baylor

16-17

Baylor

Memphis

Photo by: Michael Stires

Apr 14, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score

Tigers set up rubber match Sunday at 1 p.m.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Jonathan Bowlan allowed just one run in 6 1/3 innings to lead Memphis to a 7-2 win over Baylor Saturday at FedExPark. The win for Bowlan snaps a streak of almost an entire year without recording a win.

The Tigers (12-24) go for the series win over Baylor on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Memphis backed Bowlan with seven runs on 12 hits against the Baylor Bears. Three Tigers produced multiple-hit games, including a 4-for-4 performance by Tyler Webb. Keith Stepter had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.

Baylor scored first for the second-straight game, plating a two-out run in the second inning. Bowlan was nearly out of the inning after getting back-to-back strikeouts before the two-out RBI single.

The Tigers got out to a slow start with just three hits through the first four innings. Memphis had singles in the first, second and fourth innings but were unable to get anything else across early in the game.

The Tiger bats woke up in a big way in the fifth inning, scoring four runs on five hits to take their first lead of the weekend. The bottom of the Tigers' batting order set the table for the inning, with Stepter and Bell both hitting singles.

Ben Brooks and Carlos Williams then followed by both hitting RBI singles to take the lead. Cale Hennemann hit a sacrifice fly to drive in another run and Webb capped the inning with an RBI double off the wall in left field.

Williams started in the leadoff spot of the batting order and went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Stepter extended the Tigers lead to 6-1 with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth. The homer was Stepter's second of the season.

Memphis added another run to its lead in the seventh inning. Williams and Webb both legged out infield singles and the run came home on an RBI groundout by Alec Trela.

Hunter Smith came out of the bullpen to pitch the final 2 2/3 innings and allowed just one run on three hits. He struck out two batters and issued no walks.