University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Vanderbilt
Big Time Pitching Secures Win Over Commodores
Mar 21, 2000 | Baseball
March 21, 2000
Memphis, Tn - The University of Memphis baseball team (6-15, 0-2) snapped a three-game losing streak Tuesday night, knocking of the Commodores of Vanderbilt (10-12), 5-1. Led by a stellar pitching effort by sophomore pitcher Layne Dawson and solid defensive play, the Tigers are now 1-2 versus the SEC, having dropped two previous games to the Bulldogs of Mississippi State earlier this month out at USA Stadium in Millington.
The Commodores got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning, as Shawn Luellwitz singled to drive in Andy Kropf, and Vanderbilt led 1-0. The Tigers would answer right back in the bottom of the fourth, as sophomore first baseman Jay Fik (Christian Brothers H.S.) singled with a line-drive over the second baseman's glove scoring junior shortstop Gabe Interiano from third and the score was tied, 1-1. Senior right-fielder/designated hitter Wes Crane added to the lead, hitting a sharply-hit ball down the first base line, and an error by the third baseman allowed Fik and senior designated hitter/right-fielder Henry Castor to score and Memphis took the lead, 3-1 going into the top of the fifth. The Tigers would add to their total in the bottom of the sixth, when senior shortstop Stephen Frix (White Station H.S.) who was pinch-hitting for senior catcher Craig Hopkins, (Houston H.S.) singled to right-field driving in Fik and Castor and Memphis increased the lead, 5-1. That was all the Tigers needed as they shut the door on the Commodores, and pulled out the win.
Fik and Castor led the way, both going two-for-four with a double and a single each and also scoring two runs a-piece. Fik also had one RBI in the win.
Dawson went a full six innings in his first win (1-1), facing 27 batters and allowing one un-earned run on six hits while walking only one and striking out four. Coming in to relieve Dawson was redshirt-freshman pitcher Joshua Cartwright, who went two innings facing eight batters and allowing zero runs on one hit while walking one and striking out two. The closer was senior pitcher Sean Carlson, who went the last inning and faced three batters walking one and striking out one. As a staff, the Tigers pitchers allowed only three walks total, with one issued walk each.
Getting the loss for Vanderbilt was Damon Yee (3-2), who went five and 1/3 innings allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits while walking none and striking out four, in the loss.
Coach Jeff Hopkins after the win, "We had solid pitching performances by Dawson, Cartwright and Carlson. Along with timely hitting it all contributed to the win. Fik had a good night and Frix had a big hit in the sixth inning."
The Tigers will now travel to take on the Billikins of Saint Louis in a three-game series beginning on Friday March 24th. The first game will be played at 7 p.m. while the games on Saturday March 25th and Sunday March 26th will have a 1 p.m. start. Memphis will be searching for it's first Conference USA win of the season.
