University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
UAB
Tigers Mount four-Run Comeback; Win 9-6
Apr 09, 2000 | Baseball
April 9, 2000
Memphis, Tn. - The University of Memphis Tiger baseball team (12-21, 6-5) rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat the Blazers of UAB (15-18, 2-8) on Sunday afternoon, by a score of 9-6. This win marks the first C-USA sweep of the year by the Tigers and is also their fourth consecutive win in conference play, as well. Memphis will now move into fourth place in Conference USA play.
The Tigers withstood two home runs by the Blazers and also tied a season-high 13 hits as a team, in the victory.
Redshirt-sophomore pitcher Joshua Cartwright grabbed the win (1-3), as he came on in relief duty in the fifth replacing the starter, junior pitcher/designated hitter Jonathan Leicester. Cartwright was a force on the mound, as he went for three innings of work and allowed only one run on four hits while only walking two and fanning four, including three-in-a-row which retired the Blazer side in the sixth.
After jumping out to an early 1-0 lead, Memphis found itself down by a run in the top of the third when Brent Laircey smashed a two-run homer over the right field wall, giving the Blazers a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning. The power surge continued for UAB in the fourth, as Christian Reimers went yard for a three-run blast and the Blazers would coast into the bottom of the fourth ahead, 5-1. The scoring trend would resume in that same inning, but this time it was the Tigers who roared back with three runs of their own, to take a chunk out of the UAB lead and then trailed, 5-4 going into the fifth. Memphis would tie the game in the fifth when senior left-fielder Tony Lomeli was sent in to pinch-hit for redshirt-sophomore left-fielder Randall Tatum (Kirby H.S.). Lomeli grounded out to the shortstop, which scored sophomore second baseman Daniel Uggla from second to tie the game at 5. The Tigers didn't let up in the sixth and went in for the kill, as senior first baseman Nate Sams ripped a double to left-center, scoring Leicester from second and Memphis would re-take the lead, 6-5. Still in the sixth and with two outs, Memphis would get the bases loaded and score two more runs on a hit-batter and a walk to increase their lead by two runs and took an 8-5 advantage going into the seventh. Both teams would score one more run a-piece before the Tigers would eventually wrap up their fourth straight Conference USA victory.
Sams continued his hot streak at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a single, double and a stolen base (first of year) while drawing a walk and snagging two RBI. Leicester followed suit, with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate, including three singles and an RBI. Tatum was equally effective, going 2-for-2 with a single and a double while scoring a run.
Leicester got the start and gave up five earned on seven hits while striking out four. Senior closer Sean Carlson picked up his fourth save of the year and went for two innings of work allowing two hits but would strike out two, in the win.
The loss went to Tebe Shaw (1-3) of UAB, who worked two-thirds of an inning, giving up three earned on three hits while walking and striking out one.
Coach Jeff Hopkins after the win said, "We put it all together this weekend. We got solid pitching and were able to back it up with the way we swung the bats."
The Tigers will now go on a five-game road trip starting with the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State on Tuesday April 11th and Wednesday April 12th, both games will have a 7 p.m. start. From there they will travel to take on the Cardinals of Louisville for a three-game C-USA series. Those games will be Friday April 14th, Saturday April 15th and Sunday April 16th, the game times will be 6 p.m., 1 p.m. and 1p.m., respectively.
