Denz's career day leads to shutout

Friday, March 6

Wilmington, N.C.

4 p.m.

University of Memphis

9-4

UNCW

9-4

Memphis

UNCW

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Mar 06, 2020 | Baseball

Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A career performance from senior left-handed pitcher Danny Denz highlighted Memphis' 4-0 series-opening win against UNCW on Friday night at Brooks Field.

Denz registered a career-high 11 strikeouts in six innings of a scoreless outing, while allowing just one hit. The senior, who collected his first quality start of the season, retired 18 of the 20 batters he faced.

Offensively, three runs in the first by Memphis and one in the second were all the Tigers needed to secure the win. Freshman Taylor Howell registered a multi-hit effort with a 2-for-4 night and an RBI.

The Tigers struck first in the opening frame for a trio of runs. After freshman Jaylen Wilbon led off the game with a single and junior Ben Brooks drew a walk, a UNCW defensive miscue plated the day's first two runs. Howell then etched his RBI as he drove a double to the left-centerfield gap to extend the early advantage to 3-0.

In the fourth, senior Alec Trela continued the scoring as he added an RBI double to build Memphis' 4-0 lead.

UNCW recorded its first hit of the day in the second inning, but Denz negated any scoring opportunity with a strikeout and fielder's choice. The momentum to end the home half of the second inning helped Denz retire 11 consecutively, including six strikeouts in that stretch. The Carpentersville, Ill., native tallied at least on strikeout in each frame.

Sophomore Bailey Wimberley held the Seahawks scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings in relief, registering three strikeouts. Senior Takoda Metoxen then closed the door with a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout and two ground outs.

In all, the Memphis pitching staff struck out 15 batters on Friday night, yielding a single-game high for the Seahawks this season.

Game 2 of the series is slated for a 3 p.m. (CT) first pitch on Saturday.