USF Evens Series with Tigers to Set Up Sunday Rubber Match

Saturday, March 23

Tampa, Fla.

1 P.M.

University of Memphis

12-13, 1-1

South Florida

13-10, 1-1

Memphis

South Florida

Malik Harris at USF, March 23, 2024 by Brock Busick

Photo by: Brock Busick

USF Evens Series with Tigers to Set Up Sunday Rubber Match

Mar 23, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Memphis baseball team dropped game two of a three-game American Athletic Conference series to South Florida, 9-5, at USF Baseball Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Bulls evened the series at one game apiece to force a Sunday rubber match to decide the series.

The Tigers dropped to 12-13 overall (1-1 AAC) with the loss while the Bulls improved to 13-10 (1-1 AAC) on the season.

"Tough day. We didn't play very well in any phase of the game," head coach Matt Riser said. "We had some big moments we could have had some big hits but couldn't do it and were still within one swing of the bat to win it there in the ninth. We have a lot to clean up, but I think you take confidence in that, knowing you played that poorly and still had a chance to win it against their guys and closer."

HOW IT HAPPENED
• South Florida came out hot and used a four-run first inning to jump out to an early lead. An RBI single by Jackson Mayo and a two-run single by Stewart Puckett accounted for the first three runs and John Montes scored on a passed ball for the fourth run of the frame.
• The Bulls added a run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Montes to put USF up 5-0.
• Memphis got on the board in the top of the fifth on a fielder's choice by Seth Cox that allowed Jake Curtis to score. The next batter, Austin Baskin, lined an RBI single through the right side of the infield to drive in Brennan DuBose to make it a three-run deficit.
• Freshman RHP Malik Harris entered in the fifth and threw three shutout innings, allowing just a pair of hits while striking out three and walking just one.
• The Tigers added a pair of runs in the eighth to get within a run of the Bulls when DuBose reached on a fielder's choice and drove in Jacob Compton. A muffed throw by the USF first baseman allowed a second run to score on the play (Pierre Seals) to make the score 5-4, USF.
• The Bulls loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth and Montes delivered, hitting a two-out grand slam to put USF up by five.
• Memphis loaded the bases itself in the top of the ninth but could only muster a run on a two-out RBI single by Compton as USF evened the series with the 9-5 win.

NOTABLES
• Compton, Seals and Curtis all tallied a pair of hits in the game. Seals and Curtis both logged doubles and Compton drove in his team-leading 29^th run of the season.
• Stuart and Baskin both recorded hits and extended their respective on-base streaks to 43 and 38 games.
• Alex Fernandes went 1-for-3 from the nine spot in the lineup and walked once.
• LHP Luke Ellis made his sixth start of the season and took the loss to go to 0-3 on the season, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits while striking out three and walking three.

UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back at USF Baseball Stadium tomorrow for the rubber match and series finale with the Bulls at noon CT.

How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Baseball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.