Highlights
The American’s baseball teams continued a tremendous midweek showing on Wednesday night, adding six more wins to go 10-1 in nonconference games this week. The wins included a walk-off victory from Tulane in an exciting 10-9 rout over No. 18 LSU. No. 24 Wichita State shut out Kansas, while Memphis head coach Daron Shoenrock earned his 400th career win against Mississippi State. UCF, Cincinnati and UConn joined them in earning wins. The league will return to conference play this weekend, as three teams share the top spot in league standings for a third-straight week.
Tulane avenged a loss from earlier this season with a 10-9 walk-off win over No. 18 LSU. It was the third walkoff for the Green Wave in five games. Down by two in the bottom of the ninth, Tulane rallied for three runs to earn the win and even the season series at 1-1. Outfielder Grand Witherspoon led off the final frame with a solo home run. Third baseman Kody Hoese then hit an RBI double before the Tigers walked in the game-winning run with the bases loaded. Tulane will host East Tennessee State this weekend.
Memphis upended Mississippi State, 6-1, in what was Coach Daron Schoenrock's 400th career victory. The Tigers held the Bulldogs to just one run on five hits on the backs of pitchers Connor Alexander and Hunter Smith. Shortstop Alec Trela had a big day at the plate, with a career-high tying 4-for-4 day with two RBI and two runs scored. Trela hit a home run and two doubles in the game. The Tigers will host No. 11 ECU in a series this weekend.
UConn put together a seven-run, seven-hit fifth inning to move ahead 9-3 on the way to a 14-7 win at UMass Lowell. The Huskies have won seven of their last 10 and has scored six runs or more in eight-straight contests. The back end of the UConn bullpen helped seal the win with four scoreless innings after the fifth. Troy Stefanski registered his second four-RBI game of the year, while Isaac Feldstein recorded his first three-hit game of the season. UConn continues its league play in a series at Cincinnati this weekend.
UCF’s pitching staff combined for eight shutout innings on the way to a 7-1 win over Bethune-Cookman to clinch the season series. Catcher Dallas Beaver went 3-for-4 with two double to lead the Knights’ offense, as the Knights led 12-4 in hits. UCF heads to Tampa to face first-place USF in the War on I-4 Series this weekend.
Wichita State earned its third straight win and second victory of the week with a dominant 11-0 victory over Kansas. The Shockers’ pitching staff combined for 13 strikeouts, as freshman starter Tyler Davis earned his first career win in his first career start after tossing 5.0 innings and fanning eight batters, while scattering two hits. Catcher Gunnar Troutwine went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a double, while outfielder Dayton Dugas went 2-for-5 with a RBI and two doubles. The Shockers will head to first-place Houston for a series this weekend.
The Bearcats battled through wet conditions and tallied five runs in the first two innings, scoring in all but two frames on the way to defeating crosstown rival Xavier 10-7. First year Cincinnati head coach Scott Googins, who is the winningest coach in Musketeer history, collected his first career win over his former team. Four Bearcats had a multi-hit game, led by designated hitter Cole Murphy who had two hits and drove in four runs. Cincinnati welcomes UConn this weekend.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE / RESULTS
Tuesday, April 17
No. 11 ECU 9, No. 3 Duke 2
USF 7, North Florida 1
Wichita State 8, Central Arkansas 2
Houston 9, Sam Houston State 4
Wednesday, April 18
UCF 7, Bethune-Cookman 1
No. 24 UConn 14, UMass Lowell 7
No. 24 Wichita State 11, Kansas 0
Memphis 6, Mississippi State 1
Tulane 10, No. 18 LSU 9
Sam Houston State 8, Houston 3
Cincinnati 10, Xavier 7
Friday, April 20
UConn at Cincinnati * - 6 p.m.
UCF at USF * - 6:30 p.m.
ECU at Memphis * - 7:30 p.m.
Wichita State at Houston * - 7:30 p.m.
East Tennessee State at Tulane - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 21
ECU at Memphis * - 3 p.m.
East Tennessee State at Tulane - 3 p.m.
UConn at Cincinnati * - 4 p.m.
UCF at USF * - 6:30 p.m.
Wichita State at Houston * - 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 22
UCF at USF * - 1 p.m.
UConn at Cincinnati * - 1 p.m.
ECU at Memphis * - 1 p.m.
Wichita State at Houston * - 2 p.m.
East Tennessee State at Tulane - 2 p.m.
All times ET & subject to change
* conference game