Memphis rallies but falls in 8-7 walk-off by ECU

Saturday, April 10

Greenville, N.C.

3:00 P.M.

University of Memphis

11-18, 1-6

ECU

25-5, 7-0

Memphis

East Carolina

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Apr 10, 2021 | Baseball

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Memphis Tigers trailed by as many as three and were down by two runs in the eighth inning Saturday, and while a two-run single from Braden Webb knotted up Saturday's matchup with No. 8 ECU, the Pirates took advantage of a ninth inning throwing error to walk-off with an 8-7 win. The victory set up a Sunday sweep opportunity for the AAC-best Pirates.

After ECU (25-5, 7-0) took a 1-0 lead into the third inning, both sides put up three runs in the frame. Memphis (11-18, 1-6) tagged Jake Kuchmaner (ND) in the inning for a run on a sacrifice fly from Hunter Goodman and a two-run blast from Alec Trela, his second home run in as many days. With a 4-1 lead, Landon Kelly (ND) quickly saw the lead evaporate, as ECU scored three runs with two outs in the home half of the inning. Thomas Francisco made it a two-run game with a solo home run, while after a walk, HBP, wild pitch, and another walk loaded the bases, Bryson Worrell tied the game with a two-run double. Kelly allowed four runs on six hits over three innings in the no-decision. Kuchmaner pitched into the fifth but didn't give up anything else to the Tigers, as ECU led 4-3 after 4.5 innings.

The Pirates scored a single run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings against the combination of Carson Stinnett and Dalton Kendrick. In the fifth, Stinnett gave up a sacrifice fly to Ben Newton, while Kendrick gave up a run in the sixth on a groundout by Josh Moylan and another in the seventh on a two-out single by Lane Hoover. Prior to Hoover's RBI single, the Tigers plated a pair in the top of the seventh, as Goodman picked up two RBIs with a single to center field. The Pirates took a 7-5 lead into the eighth.

Down to their final six outs, the Memphis rallied to tie the game in the eighth against Garrett Saylor (W, 3-0). Evan Bell drew a leadoff walk, while Max Hildreth followed with a pinch-hit single. After a sacrifice bunt from Ian Bibiloni put men at second and third, Webb's single to right field plated both runners and tied the game. The Tigers put the go-ahead run into scoring position, but Saylor struck out Trela and ended the Memphis threat with the game knotted 7-7.

After the Tigers went in order against Saylor in the top of the ninth, ECU rallied to begin the team's final trip to the plate. Reed Harding, who spun a scoreless eighth, issued a leadoff walk to Worrell in the ninth, while Newton followed with a single. With runners on first and second and no outs, Memphis turned to Walker Brockhouse (L, 0-1), who got credit for a strikeout, as Ryder Giles bunted strike three foul. Connor Norby followed with a groundout that looked like it could be a double play that sent the game to extras, and while the Tigers got the force out at second base, the throw to first was wide of the bag, which allowed Worrell to score and end the game on the throwing error. ECU walked-off the Tigers 8-7 on the play and improved to 21-1 at home.

In an effort to avoid the four-game sweep, Memphis will turn to Chris Durham (2-2, 3.67) Sunday in Greenville. The southpaw is one outing removed from a dominant six-inning and one-run performance in a win vs. Murray State. For the Pirates, Tyler Smith (1-1, 3.91) is set to take the mound. Smith hasn't gone more than four innings in any of this last three outings, though the senior hasn't allowed a run in either of his last two appearances. First pitch Sunday is set for 10:30 a.m. at Clark-LeClair Stadium.