Four-Run Ninth Helps Tigers Complete Sweep of UAB

Sunday, March 23

Memphis, Tennessee (Nat Buring Stadium)

1:00 PM

University of Memphis

11-10, 3-0

UAB

6-13, 0-3

UAB

Memphis

Mar 23, 2008 | Baseball

Box Score

March 23, 2008

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

Memphis 7, UAB 6

UAB (6-13; 0-3 C-USA)       000 410 010 - 6  9 1
Memphis (11-10; 3-0 C-USA)  000 300 004 - 7 10 1

Senior K.K. Chalmers went 4-for-4 and capped a four-run ninth-inning rally by driving in Robby Graham and Chad Zurcher with a single to leftfield to send Memphis to a thrilling 7-6 comeback win over UAB in the series finale on Sunday. The Tigers clinch their first-ever sweep in the opening series of C-USA play and improves to 11-10--the team's first time above .500 this year.

The victory also completed the program's first conference-season opening sweep since taking three from Saint Louis in the first weekend of Great Midwest Conference action in 1995.

Trailing 6-3 in the ninth inning, Memphis staged a strong rally that the UAB relief corps was unable to hold off. Trey Wiedman, Cole Shelton and Graham each singled to leftfield. Zurcher then worked a four-pitch, bases loaded walk to cut the Tigers' deficit to 6-4 with just one out to chase Blazers reliever Billy Lichtner. UAB brought on James Oliver to close the contest out, but it was clear that the game was far from over as the righthander's second offering hit Eric Farrell to force home Shelton for a one-run contest. Chris Kirkland flied out to centerfield, setting up the dramatic finish. Chalmers worked the count full, and then looped a sinking liner into leftfield for the game-winning hit.

Before the four-run clincher, Memphis's offense was unable to muster much production, logging just six hits in the first eight innings. The Tigers posted one hit in each of the third through eighth innings, prior to the four-hit ninth. Memphis stranded 13 runners in the game, including leaving the bases loaded in the third and fourth innings.

The U of M patiently battled UAB relievers to trim a 4-0 deficit to 4-3 with three scores in the fourth. They benefitted from four walks and an infield error in the stanza. Graham reached on a one-out walk and Zurcher followed with an infield single. UAB third baseman Luke Stewart was unable to handle a groundball off the bat of Farrell, loading the bases. Daniel Kauffman got the Tigers on the board with a sac fly to center and consecutive walks to Chalmers and Tyler Huelsing made it 4-2. Huelsing's walk came with the bases juiced and proved to be the last action for Blazers' reliever Brandon Flaherty. Beau Pender promptly issued his first batter--Brett Bowen--a walk for a close 4-3 game.

UAB got on top of the Tigers with a four-run fourth in which they sent nine batters to the plate. Jonathan Merritt reached on an infield error and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Crawford. Crawford had three sac bunts in the game. Phil Bell's RBI-single to left scored Merritt to give the Blazers the 1-0 lead. Ryan Keedy, who led UAB with two hits, singled and Cody McMurry drew a free pass to load the bases. Tiger starter Ryan Holland was unable to find his command and walked Stewart to make it 2-0. Allen Aubin completed the inning with a two-run single.

After Memphis answered with three in the home half of the fourth, the Blazers came back with a run in the fifth, and then extended the lead to 6-3 with another in the eighth. Both runs scored on leadoff walks to Merritt (in the fifth) and Brint Hardy (in the eighth)

Behind Chalmers' four hits and two RBI, Memphis out hit UAB 10-9. Shelton and Graham also chipped in with two hits each. Graham and Zurcher scored two runs.

Both pitching staff struggled to throw strikes, handing out a combined 18 walks--10 by UAB and eight by Memphis. Holland was effective in four innings, allowing three hits and just two earned runs. Marcus Barnes was again solid. He kept the game close, shutting the Blazers out in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Brennon Martin was the beneficiary of the ninth-inning rally. He worked two innings and gave up a run on one hit. The trio combined for four strikeouts.

Lichtner took the loss for UAB. The southpaw gave up four runs (all earned) on five hits in 3.1 innings. Blazers starter Shay Crawford allowed just one hit in three innings in his C-USA debut. He struck four and walked four.

Memphis will now prepare for a rematch of 2007 NCAA Regional action with Austin Peay on Tues., Mar. 25. In a program first, the Tigers and Governors will meet at Pringles Park in Jackson, Tenn. Memphis will be the home team in the tilt that has a 6:30 p.m. scheduled first pitch.