MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to knock off University of South Alabama baseball 5-3 Wednesday night at FedEx Park.
Jaguar righthander Jarrett Bailey struck out a career-high seven batters in 6.1 innings, and allowed just two runs on six hits and did not issue a walk. Bailey pitched four consecutive scoreless innings before being pulled in the bottom of the seventh inning. Brandon Brown (0-2) took the loss in 0.0 innings of relief, allowing two runs on one hit while issuing one walk and hitting one Memphis batter.
"Jarrett Bailey was a plus tonight," USA head coach Steve Kittrell said. "He didn't walk anybody and threw a good game. He pitched well enough to win. We're a better offensive team than we showed tonight. It's a tough one to lose late in the game. You can't expect to win with only five hits and 11 strikeouts, offensively. We had a chance to win, and we didn't get it done. We put too many men on base and gave them an opportunity to beat us."
Brown went 2-for-3 with one run scored to lead the Jags at the plate.
Tiger relief pitcher Heith Hatfield (2-2) earned the win in 1.1 innings, allowing two runs on one hit while striking out one. Memphis left fielder Tyler Huelsing went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored to lead the Tigers at the plate.
Memphis (6-11) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with three consecutive singles, and scored on Tyler Huelsing's RBI single to right-center field.
USA answered to tie the game 1-1 in the top of the second inning when Taylor White singled to right center to score Sean Laird, who doubled to lead off the inning.
The Tigers took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third when Huelsing singled up the middle to score Robby Graham, who led off the inning with a double.
Memphis threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning when it loaded the bases with two outs, but Jaguar left fielder Clint Reynolds chased down a ball in the left-center gap to end the inning.
USA took a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning with two runs on one hit, aided by two Memphis errors. Brown singled to lead off the inning, and moved to second on a throwing error by Memphis shortstop Jacob Wilson. Reynolds then grounded to second and reached second on a two-base throwing error by Chad Zurcher, which scored Brown from second base.
Memphis answered in the bottom of the eighth to score three runs on one hit. The Tigers loaded the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch before Huelsing scored on a passed ball to tie the game 3-3. Designated hitter Rick Russell then delivered a two-run single to center field to give the Tigers a 5-3 lead.
USA (13-7) returns to action this weekend when it hosts Louisiana-Lafayette in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Stanky Field.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
- USA -
NOTES: Zach Grichor went 0-for-3, ending his 15-game hit streak ... Overstreet drove in a run for the ninth consecutive game ... Overstreet also started his 114th consecutive game at third base ... Brown extended his hitting streak to seven games ... USA fell to 14-11 all-time against Memphis.
