Tigers drop series finale against Cincinnati

Sunday, May 12

Memphis, Tenn.

12 p.m.

University of Memphis

26-24, 9-11

Cincinnati

24-27, 13-11

Cincinnati

Memphis

Photo by: Steve Roberts, WKU Athletics

May 12, 2019 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis baseball dropped a 4-2 game to close its home series against Cincinnati Sunday afternoon at FedExPark.

The Bearcats limited the Tigers' offense to five hits, while timely offense from the visiting side served as the difference.

"They didn't give us anything. The big games we've had offensively this year, we've taken advantage of freebies," Head Coach Daron Schoenrock said. "When they don't give much away and you're forced to hit, it's tough. We did that to them too. They found a couple holes, but that's the way the game plays sometimes. They found the holes today with runners on and we didn't.

Memphis starter Chris Durham scattered three earned runs across 6.2 innings pitched and added seven strikeouts. Takoda Metoxen turned in a strong performance out of the bullpen, allowing just one hit in 2.1 scoreless frames with four strikeouts.

Offensively, Cale Hennemann continued to stay hot at the plate with another multi-hit effort. Kyle Ouellette tallied an RBI via a solo home run, while Santana drove in a run on a sacrifice bunt.

Cincinnati plated a run in the top of the third inning and added to their lead one inning later for a 3-0 advantage.

Memphis found its best opportunity at the plate in the fourth inning. The Tigers scored twice in the frame, starting with the solo shot by Ouellette. Later in the inning a squeeze from Santana scored Hennemann to trim the gap to 3-2, but that would be as close Memphis could reach as the Tigers were limited to three base runners and one hit the remainder of the contest.

Despite the setback, the Tigers clinched a spot in The American Athletic Conference Championships in Clearwater, Fla., in two weeks after last night's Senior Day win.

"There was a lot of good senior leadership that propelled that. And I felt that way going into the year," Schoenrock added of the tournament berth. "This is a good league. Top to bottom there are solid baseball programs with wonderful places to play. These schools are committed to baseball, and it's a dogfight to get into the Top 8. We'll reground and see how we'll attack it. We know we will be playing, and that's a good thing."

The Tigers will host UT Martin on Tuesday at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn., for its annual Babe Howard Classic. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.