CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
 
CLEARWATER, Florida – Santiago Garcia drove home Brandon Burckel to earn the walk-off win for No. 3 Houston against No. 7 Memphis, 8-7, Thursday evening at the 2022 TicketSmarter American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship at BayCare Ballpark.
 
With the win, Houston (36-22) will face the winner of Friday’s game between UCF and Memphis on Saturday at approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. Memphis (26-28) will take on the Knights on Friday at approximately 4:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
Houston struck first with Brandon Uhse hitting his second lead-off home run of the season. Two batters later, Anthony Tulimero hit a 2-run shot, his fourth of the season, to push the lead to 3-0.
 
The Cougars built a 7-2 lead when Tulimero hit a 2-run double, but the Tigers clawed back with four in the fifth and tied the game in the sixth on a deep home run to right by Jacob Compton, his 10^th of the year.
 
In the ninth, Burckel started the inning with a single, stole second and moved to third on a fly ball. After the bases were loaded, Garcia stepped up and hit a single down the left field line to score Burckel and win the game for the Cougars.
 
Uhse and Lopez both went 4-for-5 for Houston, while Zach Wilson had three hits for Memphis.
 
Jose Torrealba (2-0) earned the win, pitching the last two innings and only allowing one hit. Blake Wimberley (3-7) took the loss, allowing one run in two innings of relief.
 
2022 TicketSmarter American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship
 
Schedule
Tuesday, May 24
Game 1: No. 4 Cincinnati 8, No. 5 Tulane 1
Game 2: No. 1 East Carolina 7, No. 8 South Florida 1
Game 3: No. 7 Memphis 7, No. 2 UCF 6
Game 4: No. 3 Houston 10, No. 6 Wichita State 7
 
Wednesday, May 25
Game 5: Tulane 9, South Florida 6
Game 6: UCF 12, Wichita State 4
 
Thursday, May 26
Game 7: East Carolina 15, Cincinnati 5 (7 innings)
Game 8: Houston 8, Memphis 7
 
Friday, May 27
Game 9: Tulane vs. Cincinnati | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 10: Memphis vs. UCF | 47 minutes after Game 9 | ESPN+
 
Saturday, May 28
Game 11: Winner of Game 9 vs. East Carolina | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: Houston vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13 (If Necessary): Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 | 47 minutes after Game 12 | ESPN+
Game 14 (If Necessary): Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 | 47 minutes after Game 13 | ESPN+
 
Sunday, May 29
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS