Tigers Fall to Knights in Series Rubber Match

Sunday, April 16

Orlando, Fla.

9 A.M.

University of Memphis

19-18, 3-6

UCF

20-16, 3-6

Memphis

UCF

Apr 16, 2023 | Baseball

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Memphis baseball team fell to UCF in the rubber match of a three-game American Athletic Conference series, 8-6, on Sunday at John Euliano Park in Orlando.

With the setback, Memphis goes to 19-18 (3-6) on the season. The Knights improved to 20-16 (3-6) on the year with the win.

"Frustrating loss for us today," head coach Kerrick Jackson said. "We have to keep coaching them to be better."

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Memphis got its first run of the day when shortstop Will Spears stole third and came into score on an errant throw by the catcher that ended up in left field.
• In the top of the fifth, Shane Cox took the first pitch of the inning and sent it over the left-field wall for his second home run of the season. A few batters later with two Tigers on the pond, Austin Baskin smashed his second home run of the weekend and seventh of the season to put the Tigers up 5-0.
• UCF responded with five runs of its own on six hits in the bottom half of the fifth to tie the game.
• In the top of the eighth, Spears attempted to sac-bunt Logan Kohler to third after he led off the inning with a double. Spears got the bunt down and the throw to first was wild, allowing Kohler to score and Spears to end up on third to give the Tigers a 6-5 lead.
• The Knights got three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead for the first time all day.
• Jake Curtis walked in the ninth, but the Tigers were unable to get any offense going to get him in.

NOTABLES
• Spears had a good day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, a pair of stolen bases and a run scored.
• Baskin hit his seventh home run of the season and tallied three RBI and a run scored.
• Cox ended 1-for-4 with a home run, RBI and a run scored.
• Kohler hit his sixth double of the season and scored a run.
• Seth Garner started on the mound and went five innings, not allowing a hit until there was one out in the fourth inning.
• Dalton Kendrick was tagged with the loss.

UP NEXT
• The Tigers are back home at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field next weekend for a three-game series with AAC foe Houston.

How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Baseball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.