Highlights
Houston and Tulane won their second straight American Athletic Conference baseball games to clinch league-opening series, while No. 26 Wichita State collected its fifth nonconference series of the season after cruising past Furman, 14-3. USF defeated UConn 8-4, as No. 18 ECU took down No. 20 UCF 12-4 to even their respective conference-opening series at 1-1. Both rubber games are set for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Houston extended its winning streak to seven in a row with a 3-0 win over Memphis to clinch the conference opener series behind a complete game shutout by lefty Aaron Fletcher. The southpaw held the Tigers to four hits and tallied nine strikeouts. Third baseman Jared Triolo led the offense, knocking in the only two RBIs of the game on a double to center field. He ended the night with three hits.
Wichita State scored a season-high 14 runs on a season-high 17 hits in a 14-3 win over Furman to clinch the series. Five different Shockers enjoyed a multi-hit and RBI game, led by outfielder Greyson Jenista, who went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Starter Liam Eddy improved to 5-0 this year after throwing six shutout innings and recording six strikeouts. This marks the fifth nonconference series win for Wichita State this season, as the team extends its winning streak to four games.
Tulane designated hitter Matt Rowland hit a walk-off single with the bases-loaded to score second baseman Jonathon Artigues and give his side an 8-7 series-clinching win over Cincinnati. Tulane's first five hitters in the lineup collected 10 of the team's 13 hits, as well as six RBIs and seven runs. Artigues and first baseman Trevor Jensen each had three hits. Three Bearcats had multiple hits, as shortstop Manny Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
Trailing by one in the eighth inning, ECU used four hits and three errors to score nine runs to take down No. 20 UCF 12-4 and even the series at 1-1. Third baseman Connor Litton fueled the late rally with a grand slam in the eighth, earning his third homer of the year. The Knights led 11-10 in hits with second baseman Matthew Mika going 3-for-4 at the plate.
The Bulls’ pitching staff kept UConn scoreless through the final four innings, while its offense tacked on six runs to tie their conference series opener with an 8-4 win. Hits were tied at 10-10, as shortstop Coco Montes and outfielder Duke Stunkel Jr. each went 2-for-4 for USF. The Bulls used six hits to surge for five runs in the sixth inning, as seven players in the lineup had at least a base knock during that frame. Regining National Hitter of the Week Joe Genord doubled to plate two runs. Outfielder Isaac Feldstein and catcher Thad Phillips each had a pair of hits for the Huskies.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Tuesday, March 20
UConn 7, Central Connecticut 3 (10)
No. 5 Florida State 6, No. 20 UCF 4
No. 26 Wichita State 2, Oklahoma 1
Houston 3, Lamar 1
Memphis 14, Mississippi Valley 0
Wednesday, March 21
No. 5 Florida State 13, No. 20 UCF 3
USF 12, North Florida 5
No. 15 LSU 10, Tulane 4
Houston 9, Prairie View A&M 2
Friday, March 23
NO. 20 UCF 9, No. 18 ECU 1
Tulane 5, Cincinnati 3
UConn 6, USF 4
No. 26 Wichita State 11, Furman 1
Houston 2, Memphis 0
Saturday, March 24
No. 26 Wichita State 14, Furman 3
Tulane 8, Cincinnati 7
USF 8, UConn 4
No. 18 ECU 12, No. 20 UCF 4
Houston 3, Memphis 0
Sunday, March 25
Cincinnati at Tulane – Noon *
Furman at Wichita State - 12:30 p.m.
ECU at UCF - 1 p.m. *
UConn at USF - 1 p.m. *
Memphis at Houston - 1 p.m. *
All times ET & subject to change
* Conference games