Small ball and strong pitching guide Memphis to win in AAC opener

Thursday, April 1

New Orleans, La.

6:00 PM

University of Memphis

11-12, 1-0

Tulane

11-13, 0-1

Memphis

Tulane

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Small ball and strong pitching guide Memphis to win in AAC opener

Apr 01, 2021 | Baseball

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Behind small ball and strong pitching, the Memphis Tigers earned a 4-3 win over the Tulane Green Wave Thursday in both team's first AAC matchup of the season. Blake Wimberley (W, 2-3) allowed just three runs over seven innings, while Walker Brockhouse (SV, 1) struck out five over two-perfect frames. Memphis tallied eight hits, all singles, and used a three-run fourth inning in route to the win.

Memphis (11-12, 1-0) began conference action at the home of the Green Wave, a stadium that the Tigers haven't won a series in since 2007. Tyler Hoffman (ND) got off to a strong start, as he held the Memphis offense in check while the Green Wave scored a run in the second and another in the third. A two-out RBI single from Ethan Groff gave Tulane (11-13, 0-1) the 1-0 lead in the second frame, while an RBI groundout from Bennett Lee made it 2-0 Green Wave after three innings.

The Tigers finally got to Hoffman in the fourth and did it on a walk and three singles, all of with either barely left the infield or didn't get passed the mound. Hunter Goodman led off the frame with a single and advanced on Alec Trela's walk. Attempting to sacrifice bunt, Taylor Howell was credited with a bunt single, and the throw to first base by Hoffman on Howell's bunt got passed Luis Aviles, which plated Goodman. After a sacrifice bunt from Ben Brooks, a sacrifice fly from Ian Bibiloni tied the game. Zach Wilson followed with an RBI single that plated Howell and gave the Tigers the 3-2 advantage.

After a shutdown bottom of the fourth from Wimberley, the righty gave up consecutive hits to start his fifth inning of work. Chase Engelhard led off the frame with a double and scored one batter later on a game-tying RBI single from Jacob Laprairie. The game was tied 4-4 after five innings and stayed that way until Memphis' at-bat in the seventh.

After a quality start from Hoffman, six innings and only three runs, the Green Wave turned to Lane Thomas (L, 0-1) for the seventh frame. Thomas faced just two batters, both of which reached base. Wilson drew a leadoff HBP while Jaylen Wilbon followed with a single. With runners on first and second, Tulane went back to the bullpen and brought in Keagan Gillies. Looking for the sacrifice, Braden Webb dropped down a perfect bunt to third base and beat out the play for a single, which loaded the bases with no outs. Though Gillies struck out Austin Baskin, Goodman followed with a sacrifice fly to shallow right field, which plated Wilson and proved to be the eventual game-winning play. Goodman's sacrifice fly made it 4-3 Tigers, the eventual final.

Wimberley departed for Brockhouse after seven innings and the Memphis reliever cruised through two-perfect innings. Brockhouse retired the 2-3-4 hitters on just 10 total pitches in the eighth and struck out the side in the ninth, as he secured Memphis' 4-3 win. The Tigers picked up their first true road victory of the season and begin conference play 1-0 for the first time since 2017.

The Tigers and Green Wave are set for a full day of baseball Friday, with two nine-inning games scheduled as part of a 2 p.m. doubleheader. Both games will be available on ESPN+. The series concludes Sunday with a 3 p.m. first pitch at Greer Field.