Tigers complete sweep at WKU

Sunday, March 10

Bowling Green, Ky.

1 p.m.

University of Memphis

7-7

Western Kentucky

6-8

Memphis

WKU

Photo by: Steve Roberts, WKU Athletics

Mar 10, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score

Memphis collects first road sweep since 2012

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Memphis baseball completed its sweep at WKU behind a 10-4 victory Sunday afternoon at Nick Denes Field.

The three weekend wins mark the first road sweep since 2012 for Memphis and first road sweep in non-conference play since 2004.

"Sweeps in college baseball are very hard, especially sweeps on the road," Head Coach Daron Schoenrock said. "Those are probably the best three games we have had offensively in a long time, and it wasn't just everyone getting hits. We took walks at the right time, we got our bunts down and we played more aggressive on the bases."

Much like the first two contests, the Tiger offense used a big inning to build a lead. Memphis exploded for 14 hits on Sunday, matching Friday's season-high. Kyle Ouellette enjoyed a 4-for-5 day at the plate and was a double shy of the cycle. Alec Trela (3-for-4), Ben Brooks (2-for-5) and Hunter Goodman (2-for-6) also posted multi-hit days. Goodman and Cale Hennemann also recorded two RBI each.

On the mound, the Tigers' bullpen collectively turned in a stellar scoreless performance, limiting the Hilltoppers to only two hits in 4.1 innings pitched while striking out four. Landon Kelly was credited the win after throwing two innings of one-hit ball and fanning three batters.

"Our pitching and defense were there all weekend," Schoenrock added. "Our starters threw strikes and got the game to the bullpen, which has turned in to a strength of ours."

Jason Santana got the Tigers on the board with an RBI single in the opening frame. A Brooks RBI ground out and RBI single from Nick Vaage pushed the Tiger lead to 3-0 before Memphis struck for its big inning in the fourth.

Hennemann led off the scoring in the fourth after driving in Ouellette. Goodman drove in a pair on a single, while Trela followed with an RBI hit.

Hennemann posted his second RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly in the fifth to drive the lead to 8-1. WKU offered a rally in the bottom of the frame with three runs, but a spectacular catch by Keith Stepter in the right centerfield gap with runners at the corners ended the threat.

Memphis continued its offensive barrage when Colton Neel tallied a sacrifice fly in the eighth and Ouellette homered in the ninth to seal the victory.

The Tigers return to Memphis for a five-game home stand this week at FedExPark, beginning with a contest against Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday. First pitch against the Delta Devils is set for 6 p.m.