Memphis Scores 12 Runs to Eliminate UCF at C-USA Championship
May 25, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format Box Score in PDF Format Quotes in PDF Format GREENVILLE, N.C. - Fifth-seeded Memphis scored 12 runs on 13 hits en route to eliminating No. 8 UCF, 12-5, in game nine of the 2007 C-USA Baseball Championship at Clark-LeClair Stadium on the campus of East Carolina University. The Tigers scored five runs in the first and added four in the second for an early 9-0 lead and the team extended its lead late in the game to advance to play No. 1 Rice on Saturday. In the first, K.K. Chalmers led off the inning with a double and then the Tigers (35-24) put runners at first and third with no out when shortstop Eric Kallstrom mishandled a grounder. After a Bill Moss walk loaded the bases, Adam Amar singled to score Chalmers for a 1-0 lead. Kyle Norrid was up next and grounded into a double play, but Josh Irvin kept the inning alive with a two-out, two-run double to right center, scoring Amar and Moss. Joey Lieberman extended the Tiger lead to 5-0 with a two-run home run, his league-leading 13th of the season. Memphis took advantage of three Knight errors and rapped out three more hits to score four runs in the bottom of the second. The innings was highlighted by doubles by Moss and Irvin. UCF (27-32) cut into the Tiger lead with three runs of its own in the fourth. Kiko Vazquez led off the inning with a single through the left side and then advanced to second on another throwing error by Michael Murray. Ryan Richardson was safe at first on the play. Both runners then advanced a base on a pass ball by Memphis starter Ben Grisham. Kallstrom was up next and singled up the middle to score both Richardson and Vazquez. Dwayne Bailey then tripled down the right field line to score Kallstrom and make the score 9-3. Memphis added two runs in the fifth and one in the seventh to keep their cushion and advance to Saturday's semifinals. Today's win marked the first time that Memphis has reached back-to-back championship semifinals. Grisham pitched a complete game for the Tigers, scattering 11 hits and striking out five Knights. The win was his fourth on the season. UCF starter Kyle Sweat was saddled with the loss, only lasting one inning, while giving up five runs on four hits with two walks. Austin Hudson pitched the majority of the game for the Knights, lasting five innings. He gave up three runs on six hits and tallied two strikeouts. Memphis and Rice will battle at 9 a.m. Saturday morning. If the Tigers down the Owls, an elimination game will be needed at 4 p.m. If the Owls are victorious, they will advance to their second straight C-USA Championship game on Sunday.
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
