Late offense sparks win at Wichita State

Sunday, March 24

Wichita, Kan.

1 p.m.

University of Memphis

11-11, 0

Wichita State

11-12, 0

Memphis

Wichita State

Photo by: Kelly Ross

Mar 24, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score

Tiger bullpen holds WSU hitless in final four innings

WICHITA, Kan. – A three-run ninth inning propelled Memphis to a 6-3 victory against Wichita State Sunday afternoon at Eck Stadium.

Tied 3-3 in the ninth, Cale Hennemann drove a 2-RBI single through the ride side to put Memphis ahead. Two batters later, a safety squeeze from Keith Stepter built a three-run cushion.

In the bottom of the frame, Colton Neel retired three of the four batters he faced to notch his fourth save of the season.

"I thought all day long we were more aggressive. I told the guys to move runners and attack things," Head Coach Daron Schoenrock said. "I thought Colton Neel was phenomenal for us in the 2-hole. Our bullpen stepped us for us. Alex Smith stepped up big, and Takoda (Metoxen) was really big in a bases-loaded situation."

Stepter finished the day with three RBI and a home run, while Neel enjoyed a 3-for-5 day at the plate and scored a pair of runs. Hennemann, Nick Vaage and Payton Marshall also posted multiple hit days with two hits each.

On the mound, starter Chris Durham threw 4.2 innings and fanned five batters. After running into a jam in the fifth, the Tigers' bullpen took over. The combination of James Muse, Takoda Metoxen, Alex Smith and Neel shutout the Shockers for the remainder of the game, allowing no hits and combining for five strikeouts.

Much like Saturday's game, the Tigers opened a 3-0 lead through the first three innings. Stepter connected on a 2-run homer in the second inning, and an RBI single from Payton Marshall made it a 3-0 lead.

The Shockers answered in similar fashion after a 2-run home run in the fourth inning and a sacrifice fly knotted the game at 3-3.

Both sides were limited to a pair of hits in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. The Tigers led off the ninth inning with three consecutive singles before Hennemann provided the go-ahead hit.

Memphis will return to the diamond for four home games this week, beginning with a matchup against No. 20 Ole Miss at AutoZone Park on Tuesday. First pitch in the midweek action is set for 6 p.m.