Complete Notes |
Conference Stats
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – American Athletic Conference baseball teams completed their first midweek games, as all nine teams return to nonconference series action. The American is off to a 21-14 start against other conferences and will combine for another 28 games this weekend.
Twelve of the league’s weekend games will be played against top-25 opponents. After UConn and USF took down top-five opponents in back-to-back weeks, The American owns a .600 winning percentage (3-2) against ranked foes.
USF became the second American Athletic Conference baseball team in as many weeks to take down a top-five team, as the Bulls outhit No. 4 Florida 12-2 and recorded 13 strikeouts in a 6-1 win in Tampa on Tuesday night. USF’s pitching staff was lights out, keeping the Gators off the board and without a hit through the first five innings. Starter Baron Stuart racked up six strikeouts through the first four scoreless innings. First baseman Joe Genord and designated hitter Chris Chatfield each hit a home run, while outfielder Kyle Phillips went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a double.
USF started its season with a series win over Southern Conference favorite Samford. The Bulls continue their tough nonconference start, heading to No. 5 North Carolina for a weekend series on ACC Network Extra. Last year, USF defeated then-No. 6 North Carolina 4-3 on Opening Day.
After sweeping its second-straight series to stay undefeated with a 5-0 record, Tulane will host No. 10 Ole Miss for a three-game series over the weekend. The Green Wave earned an opening-weekend sweep of George Washington, which included back-to-back walk-off wins. Tulane then carried the momentum into its first midweek contests, taking both ends of a two-game series against Lamar, to stay unbeaten with a 5-0 record. Third baseman Kody Hoese tied The American’s single-game record with three home runs in Wednesday’s 22-10 win, finishing the night 4-for-7 with four RBIs. Hoese is batting .520 on the young season.
ECU outfielder Bryson Worrell blasted a three-run home run in the eighth inning before first baseman/outfielder Alec Burleson hit a three-run shot for his first-collegiate homer in the ninth, but the No. 11 Pirates’ rally came up short in a 7-6 walk-off loss at Campbell on Wednesday night. ECU returns to Clark-LeClair Stadium for a series against Monmouth this weekend.
UConn, which made a loud statement on opening weekend by taking two of three games against No. 4 Louisville in a neutral-site series, hits the road this weekend for a series at the College of Charleston.
UCF has outscored its opponents 25-6 through four home wins after the Knights defeated 2018 Atlantic Sun champion Stetson 10-2 Tuesday night. The Knights welcome to No. 18 Auburn to John Euliano Park for a three-game series that begins Friday. UCF's pitching staff owns a 1.25 ERA and 52 strikeouts this season to lead the conference.
Houston carried a 3-1 lead into the ninth inning against McNeese State Wednesday, but the Cougars allowed the tying runs in the top of the ninth before the Cowboys exploded for 10 runs in the 14th in what ended up as a 13-5 setback. Designated hitter Joe Davis had three hits, and four RBIs, with a double and a home run. Houston faces No. 24 Arizona at home in a weekend series.
A five-run first inning proved to be too much for Memphis to overcome Wednesday as the Tigers fell 10-6 to Murray State. Memphis will look to get back on track at FedExPark to continue its homestand against Southern Illinois over the weekend.
Wichita State and Cincinnati look to bounce back this weekend. The Shockers will compete in the UT Arlington Classic, playing Stephen F. Austin and UT Arlington twice. The Bearcats will be on the road for a second-straight week, taking on Houston Baptist.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE/RESULTS:
Tuesday, February 19
UCF 10, Stetson 2
USF 6, Florida 1
Tulane 9, Lamar 1
Wednesday, February 20
Murray State 10, Memphis 6
Campbell 7, ECU 6
McNeese State 13, Houston 5 (14)
Tulane 22, Lamar 10
Friday, February 22
Stephen F. Austin vs. Wichita State - Noon
Cincinnati at Houston Baptist - 2 p.m.
USF at North Carolina (ACC Network Extra) - 3 p.m.
UConn at Charleston - 4 p.m.
Monmouth at ECU - 4 p.m.
Southern Illinois at Memphis - 5 p.m.
Auburn at UCF - 6 p.m.
Ole Miss at Tulane - 7:30 p.m.
Arizona at Houston - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 23
Wichita State at UT Arlington - Noon
Cincinnati at Houston Baptist - 1 p.m.
UConn at Charleston - 2 p.m.
Monmouth at ECU - 2 p.m.
USF at North Carolina (ACC Network Extra) - 2 p.m.
Southern Illinois at Memphis - 3 p.m.
Ole Miss at Tulane - 3 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin vs. Wichita State - 4 p.m.
Auburn at UCF - 6 p.m.
Arizona at Houston - 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 24
Wichita State at UT Arlington - Noon
Arizona at Houston - 12:30 p.m.
USF at North Carolina (ACC Network Extra) - 1 p.m.
Auburn at UCF - 1 p.m.
UConn at Charleston - 1 p.m.
Monmouth at ECU - 1 p.m.
Cincinnati at Houston Baptist - 2 p.m.
Southern Illinois at Memphis - 2 p.m.
Ole Miss at Tulane - 2 p.m.
All times Eastern and are subject to change