Houston avoids sweep behind late offense

Sunday, March 31

Memphis, Tenn.

1 p.m.

University of Memphis

13-13, 0

Houston

14-13, 0

Houston

Memphis

Photo by: Kelly Ross

Mar 31, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Late offense spoiled a league sweep as Houston used four runs in the last three innings to claim a 4-3 win Sunday afternoon at FedExPark.

The Cougars (14-13, 2-4) erased a 3-0 deficit with two runs in the seventh inning and then took their first lead of the day with two runs in the eighth. Despite the setback, Memphis (13-13, 3-3) claimed a league series win after a doubleheader sweep of Houston on Friday, its first conference-series victory since 2017.

"A series win against a very good club I'm happy with," Head Coach Daron Schoenrock said. "We just couldn't spread enough quality at bats throughout the lineup today."

The late-inning offensive surge negated a quality start by Memphis' Chris Durham. The junior threw 6.1 innings, giving up just two runs while striking out six batters.

Memphis began the scoring with two runs in the second inning. Freshman Hunter Goodman continued his strong weekend with an RBI single and Payton Marshall's RBI double built a 2-0 lead.

Memphis extended its lead to 3-0 via an error in the fifth inning before Houston began its rally.

A pinch-hit leadoff home run in the seventh inning got Houston on the board, and an RBI single with two aboard later in the frame made it a one-run game. In the eighth inning, a leadoff walk followed by a double tied the game. Houston then took the lead on a fielder's choice later in the frame.

The Tigers return to action Wednesday as Memphis travels to Arkansas State before a non-conference series against Southern University next weekend. First pitch in the midweek action from Jonesboro, Ark., is slated for 6:30 p.m.

"We feel really good," Schoenrock added after two weeks in conference play. "I wish we didn't have to wait two weeks to get back in league play because we're playing well right now. We're going to attack and approach these next four games as conference games to keep that momentum and keep that series-winning feeling going."