Tigers come up just short in each half of doubleheader

Saturday, May 8

Memphis, Tenn.

2 p.m.

University of Memphis

14-31, 4-19

USF

19-22, 9-10

USF Bulls

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Tigers come up just short in each half of doubleheader

May 08, 2021 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Close, but just not enough, proved to be the theme for the Memphis Tigers in Saturday's doubleheader, as the hometown team lost the first half of the twin-bill to USF 7-4 in extra innings and left the tying run at third base in the ninth in a 6-5 loss to wrap up the series in Saturday's second game. After a win in the series opener Friday afternoon, the Tigers dropped the final three games of the series, the third time in conference play that has happened.

After a doubleheader split Friday, Memphis (14-32, 4-20) struck first in the opening game Saturday, as Alec Trela scored on a second inning RBI triple by Max Hildreth. Collin Sullivan (ND) limited the damage and allowed just one more run over seven innings. Sullivan struck out a season-high 13 in the no-decision, which included a run of 12 straight outs via strikeout, nine consecutive batters via strikeout.

Blake Wimberley (ND) looked sharp early for the Tigers, as he faced just one over the minimum across the first four innings. The Memphis starter ran into trouble in the fifth and didn't make it out of the inning, as USF loaded the bases with no outs. Nick Gonzalez drew a bases loaded walk, which tied the game, while Carmine Lane ended Wimberley's afternoon with a go-ahead sacrifice fly. James Muse came on in relief for Wimberley and allowed one inherited runner to score, but the righty got a bases loaded double play that ended the inning. The Bulls led 3-1 after 4.5 innings.

The Tigers got a run in the sixth on a solo home run from Trela, while each team pushed a run across in the eighth. USF (20-22, 10-10) took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth, but Orion Kerkering (W, 4-3) couldn't close the door on the Tigers. After the Bulls' reliever struck out two straight Tigers looking, Zach Wilson hit a game-tying, two-out, solo home run. The next two Tigers reached base safely, but Kerkering struck out Taylor Howell to send the game to extra innings, tied 4-4.

Takoda Metoxen (L, 0-1) entered to pitch for the Tigers in the 10^th and Julio Cortez greeted him with a single, which put the free baserunner at third base and men at the corners. Gonzalez followed with a three-run home run, which put USF ahead 7-4. In the bottom of the 10^th, the Tigers got the tying run to the plate courtesy of the free baserunner and an error by Carmine, but Ben Brooks flied out to centerfield to end the game, as the Bulls took game one 7-4.

The back end of the twin-bill followed a different script, as the Bulls jumped out to an early lead with at least one run in each of the first four innings. Jackson Cothren (L, 1-7) didn't make it through three frames for the Tigers, as the Memphis starter allowed five runs on six hits over 2.2 frames, while JT Durham allowed a run over 0.2 innings. A second inning solo home run from Trela, his second of the doubleheader, was the only Memphis offense in the first half of the game against Brad Lord (ND). USF led 6-1 after 3.5 innings.

Memphis' comeback began with two outs in the fifth inning. Lord struck out the first two batters of the frame but walked Chris Swanberg and then hit Austin Baskin with a pitch. Wilson followed with an RBI single, while a passed ball plated Baskin. Lord allowed three runs on three hits over 4.2 innings, as Memphis trailed 6-3 after five frames.

The Tigers got within two on an RBI double by Swanberg in the seventh, but left runners on the corners in the inning. Trela doubled one frame later but was stranded in scoring position.

In his fourth inning of relief, Logan Lyle (W, 3-1) gave up a leadoff double to Evan Bell, who scored two batters later on an error by Roberto Pena. Trailing 6-5, Jaylen Wilbon, who pinch-ran for Baskin, got to third base on a wild pitch, but Tanner Mink (SV, 1) struck out Wilson and Ian Bibiloni, as he secured USF's 6-5 victory and a doubleheader sweep.

With just two series left in the regular season, the Tigers will wrap up their 2021 home campaign next weekend with four games over three days vs. Houston. The series gets underway with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Friday at FedExPark. After four games vs. the Cougars, the Tigers will wrap up the regular season on the road vs. Wichita State.