University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Akron
Tiger Baseball Cruises to 12-6 Win to Sweep Akron
Mar 18, 2007 | Baseball
March 18, 2007
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -
Memphis 12, Akron 6
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Akron (9-4) 013 001 001 - 6 8 2 Memphis (12-6) 140 310 30X - 12 13 0
Junior catcher Chris Kirkland went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and Marc Ashley picked up his first collegiate win as Memphis rolled to a 12-6 victory to complete a three-game sweep of Akron Sunday afternoon at Nat Buring Stadium.
Memphis got on the board in the first via a solo home run off the bat of Bill Moss. Moss was one of five Tigers to post multiple hits in the contest. The U of M broke the contest open with a four-run second that was highlighted by consecutive singles by Ben Grisham, Eric Farrell, Kirkland and K.K. Chalmers. Kirkland capped the rally with one of his four runs scored, when he crossed on a wild pitch to give Memphis a 5-1 lead after two innings of action.
Akron answered back with three run in the third on a two-run single from DH Kurt Davidson and a groundball by Doug McNulty.
Kirkland ignited a three-run fourth with the first of his two homers on the day--a leadoff shot that just cleared the top of the leftfield wall. Bill Moss drew a two-out walk and advanced to third when Adam Amar looped a bloop single to rightfield. Consecutive walks by Joey Lieberman and Michael Murray pushed the Tiger lead out to two runs at 6-4. A fielding error by Akron allowed Amar to score and put Memphis ahead 8-4.
Kirkland's second round-tripper of the day gave the Tigers a five-run cushion in the fifth, but the Zips cut the lead back to four after Charlie Lanhard belted a leadoff triple off the leftfield wall and scored on a groundball out by McNulty.
Memphis put up a sizeable answer-back inning in the seventh. Kirkland reached on a fielder's choice groundball and moved to second on a walk by Chalmers. The duo advanced to second and third, respectively on a passed ball. Moss then drew a walk to load aht sacks for Amar. The senior's line drive to leftfield fell out of the reach of a diving Brett Savage and the ball rolled to the wall for a bases-clearing triple.
The Zips plated a run in the ninth for the 12-6 final.
Ashley benefited from a more aggressive offensive performance to earn his first college win. The freshman gave up five runs on five hits in five innings of work. Will Hudgens held Akron scoreless in 2.1 innings. Freshmen Mark Jobe and Chris Novikoff finished the game off.
Memphis will round out its seven-game homestand on Tuesday and Wednesday when it host Middle Tennessee in a two-game midweek series.
