Highlights
Tulane and Memphis each saw stunning complete-game performances from their starters, while No. 30 Wichita State plated a run in the ninth inning, as all three teams forced rubber matches for Sunday. Houston and Cincinnati each clinched series on Saturday.
Tulane starter Keagan Gillies tossed a complete game, fanning eight batters to pace his team to a 7-1 win over No. 20 UConn to force a rubber match for Sunday. Gillies surrendered one run o on six hits, shutting out the Huskies for eight frames, including the opening five. He retired the side in order four times. Outfielder Grant Witherspoon hit a grand slam in the fifth inning to extend the Green Wave’s lead to 5-0. Tomorrow’s season finale is set for 11 a.m. ET.
Memphis evened its series with No. 20 USF with an 8-2 win behind a record-setting complete-game performance from starter Jonathan Bowlan. The right-hander fanned a conference and school record 18 batters through nine innings, scattering two earned runs on four hits. His 18 Ks are the most by a NCAA Division I pitcher this season. He faced only four over the minimum, retiring the side in order six times. He retired 18-straight batters between the third and ninth innings. After giving up the first two runs of the game in the third inning, Memphis scored the final eight unanswered runs to clinch the win. The rubber match is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Houston collected its second straight series win over a ranked opponent with a 3-1 victory at No. 7 ECU. Southpaw starter Aaron Fletcher tossed went 7.1 innings, including six shutout frames to pace Houston to its Game 2 win. He scattered one earned run on seven hits and struck out three batters. Outfielder Grayson Padgett led Houston’s offense with two hits. The Cougars plated two runs in the second inning and held onto its lead through the ninth. With a 12-5 league record, Houston remains locked in first place in conference standings.
Wichita State came back from a three-run deficit to defeat UCF 5-4 in game two of the series. First baseman Greyson Jenista plated the game-winning run in the ninth inning. Second baseman Luke Ritter went 2-for-5 with a RBI and a home run, while outfielder Dayton Dugas went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a home run. The Shockers and Knights wrap up the series on Sunday at Noon ET.
Cincinnati went the distance with Kansas, as the shortstop Manny Rodriguez plated the game-winning run in the 13th inning to give the Bearcats the series with a 7-6 walk-off win. Five Bearcats enjoyed a multi-hit game, led by catcher Joey Thomas who had four hits.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE / RESULTS
Tuesday, April 24
No. 20 UConn 9, Holy Cross 6 F
No. 20 USF 5, Bethune-Cookman 3
Memphis 10, Murray State 6
No. 30 Wichita State 14, Kansas 5
Tulane 8, Texas Southern 2
No. 19 Texas 9, Houston 4
Wednesday, April 25
Rhode Island at UConn - Cancelled
Friday, April 27
Cincinnati 4, Kansas 3
UCF 9, No. 30 Wichita State 5
Houston 5, No. 7 ECU 4
No. 20 UConn 6, Tulane 2
No. 20 USF 4, Memphis 2
Saturday, April 28
Tulane 7, No. 20 UConn 1
Houston 3, No. 7 ECU 1
Cincinnati 7, Kansas 6 (13 Innings)
Memphis 8, No. 20 USF 2
No. 30 Wichita State 5, UCF 4
Sunday, April 29
Houston at ECU * - 11:30 a.m.
Tulane at UConn * - 11 a.m.
Wichita State at UCF * - Noon
Kansas at Cincinnati - 1 p.m.
Memphis at USF * - 1 p.m.
All times ET & subject to change
* conference game