Memphis tallies fourth straight win with 8-5 triumph

Tuesday, February 25

Memphis, Tenn.

4 p.m.

University of Memphis

5-3

Central Arkansas

3-5

Central Arkansas

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Memphis tallies fourth straight win with 8-5 triumph

Feb 25, 2020 | Baseball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis baseball collected its fourth consecutive win after an 8-5 victory against Central Arkansas on Tuesday evening at FedExPark.

The Tigers plated eight runs on a season-best 12 hits, lead by a 4-for-5 effort from junior Ben Brooks. Brooks' four hits marked a career high, while he also plated two runs and tallied two RBIs.

"So far it's been good. I've had a pretty good plan at the plate," Brooks said of his early-season success. "(Assistant Coach Clay) Greene and I have been working on a lot of stuff. It's a long season, but it's worked out so far."

Eight of the nine starters for the Tigers tallied at least one hit. Sophomore Hunter Goodman and freshman Jaylen Wilbon also had multiple-hit days with two apiece.

On the mound, junior Landon Kelly tallied the victory. The Southaven, Miss., native tossed the sixth and seventh innings, holding UCA scoreless while adding four strikeouts.

In relief, senior Joshua Scheer kept the Bears off the board in the eighth before senior Takoda Metoxen registered his first save of the season behind a two-strikeout ninth inning.

"I thought Landon Kelly was good tonight. He settled some things down in the middle (relief)," head coach Daron Schoenrock said. "We got Dalton Kendrick in the game for his first college outing, and you see the weapons he has. And it's nice to have Metoxen to go to and settle things down late."

Central Arkansas plated the games first two runs out of the gate, but the Tigers responded in the second. RBI hits from Wilbon, Brooks and Goodman gave Memphis a lead it wouldn't relinquish at 4-2.

The Tigers added another in the third inning as an RBI groundout from Austin Baskin built a three-run cushion.

UCA plated two in the fourth and one in the fifth, but the Tigers provided answers in each frame. A bases-loaded walk and another RBI single from Goodman pushed two runs across for Memphis in the fourth, and Brooks' fourth hit of the day, an RBI double, capped the scoring for an 8-5 final.

"I think our team has matured a lot from Day 1. We bring the competitive fire every day," Brooks added. "It's been fun to watch, and I'm excited to see where we go from here."

Memphis will close its seven-game home stand with a three-game series against Western Illinois this weekend. First pitch against the Leathernecks is set for Friday at 4 p.m. at FedExPark.