University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
16-6, 1-1
East Carolina
17-11, 1-1
Tigers Open American Play with DH Split
Mar 28, 2015 | Baseball
East Carolina 4, Memphis 1 - Game 1 Final Stats
Memphis 3, East Carolina 2 - Game 2 Final Stats
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East Carolina 4, Memphis 1 - Game 1 Box Score 
Memphis 3, East Carolina 2 - Game 2 Box Score 
Memphis first baseman Tucker Tubbs drove in two runs and later scored the game-winning run in the ninth inning as the Tigers came back from a first-game loss to beat East Carolina 3-2 in Saturday's second game to split an American Athletic Conference opening-day doubleheader in Greenville, N.C. ECU won the first game of the series 4-1.
Memphis (16-6) and East Carolina (17-11) wrap up the series with a single game Sunday at 12 Noon Central.
Memphis trailed 2-1 heading into the sixth inning.
Zach Schritenthal led off the sixth for the Tigers with a base hit up the middle after working the count full and then fouling off a couple pitches. The Tigers would load the bases on sacrifice bunts by Darien Tubbs and Brandon Montgomery who each reached safely on a pair of errors by ECU starting pitcher Jacob Wolfe.
Tucker Tubbs would then single to center field to drive in two runs and give Memphis a 2-1 lead. The Tigers would load the bases again with just one out in the inning but could not muster any more offense after Montgomery was caught in a run down between third and home for the second out of the inning.
East Carolina would tie the game at 2-2 in the seventh without the aid of a hit.
Memphis starter Dylan Toscano only walk issued during the game was to Garrett Brooks to lead off the seventh. Brooks would steal second and advance to third when Eric Tyler grounded out to the right side of the infield. Memphis elected to bring in reliever Blake Myers. A wild pitch would allow Brooks to score before Myers struck out Kirk Morgan and got Hunter Allen to ground out to end the inning.
Tucker Tubbs was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the ninth inning. Chris Carrier's sacrifice bunt put the runner in scoring position and Nate Rupiper's ground out moved Tubbs into scoring position. Jake Overbey then singled to left field to score Tubbs and give Memphis a 3-2 lead.
Memphis brought in closer Nolan Blackwood for the bottom of the eighth inning who gave up a leadoff single before getting three straight outs to earn his eighth save in as many opportunities.
Luke Lowery's single lead off the bottom of the ninth for ECU. Lowery would move to second on a sacrifice bunt by Travis Watkins. Brooks would then blast a ball that had triple written all over it which centerfield Darien Tubbs tracked down for the second out of the inning. Blackwood would then get Tyler to ground out to shortstop for the final out of the game.
"What a big time play for D. Tubbs at the right moment," said Memphis coach Daron Schoenrock about the spectacular play in the ninth. "This is not a triples ballpark, it's a double and home run ball park. That ball was hit so hard, I think if it gets to the gap, it has three written all over it. Big time play.
"And I think that play happens because we had life and energy in the dugout. Once Jake Overbey got the big hit and we went to Nolan they expected to win at that moment."
Myers (1-0) was credited with his first decision of the season with the win while ECU's Jimmy Boyd (2-7) suffered the loss.
After getting a hit in the first game of the double-header, Memphis leadoff batter Darien Tubbs went 0-for-3 and had a hitting streak end at 14 games. Schritenthal was 2-for-3 in the game.
Game 1 - East Carolina 4, Memphis 1
East Carolina starter Evan Kruczynski (5-1) threw a complete game, giving up six hits, striking out six and walking just one batter in the Priates' 4-1 win over the Tigers in Saturday's first game.
Memphis starter Caleb Wallingford (3-2) suffered the loss. The senior worked six innings, giving up six hits and walking five batters.
Walks figured in to all four East Carolina runs including one issued to Parker Lamm ahead of Reid Love's two-run homer in the fifth inning to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead.
Trailing 4-0, Darien Tubbs led off the ninth inning with a double and later scored on Tucker Tubbs double for the Tigers only run of the game.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Myers, Blake (1-0)
L: BOYD, Jimmy (2-7)
S: Blackwood, Nolan (8)
Batting:
RBI: Tubbs, Tucker 2 ; Overbey, Jake 1
SH: Tubbs, Darien 1 ; Montgomery, Brandon 1 ; Carrier, Chris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tubbs, Darien 1 ; Tubbs, Tucker 1 ; Schritenthal, Zach 1
SB: Montgomery, Brandon 1 ; Tubbs, Tucker 1
CS: Montgomery, Brandon 1
HBP: Tubbs, Tucker 1 ; Carrier, Chris 1
Batting:
3B: MORGAN, Kirk 1
RBI: MORGAN, Kirk 1
SH: WATKINS, Travis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WATKINS, Travis 1 ; BROOKS, Garrett 1
SB: BROOKS, Garrett 1
CS: LOVE, Reid 1
