STATISTICS
Saturday, March 23 Results:
No. 14 ECU 7, UCF 4
No. 14 ECU overcame a three-run deficit, as the Pirates pounded out 10 hits and clinched their first American Athletic Conference series of the season with a 7-4 win over UCF Saturday. Bryant Packard, Spencer Brickhouse and Alec Burleson each went 2-for-4 to pace ECU at the plate. Brickhouse hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to lift the Pirates past the Knights.
ECU’s bullpen held UCF to one run on one hit through the final 4.1 innings. UCF’s top of the order (Ray Alejo, Tyler Osik, Mathew Mika and Dallas Beaver) each had a base knock to tally the Knights’ four hits of the game. The Knights took an early 3-0 lead in the opening inning with three different players recording RBIs. Osik extended his hitting streak to 10 games and on-base streak to 21. Sunday’s series finale is set for a Noon ET first pitch.
Cincinnati 6, USF 5
Cincinnati rallied for five runs through the final three innings, as the Bearcats evened their conference-opening series 1-1 at USF with a 6-5 win Saturday. Sunday’s rubber match is set for a 1 p.m. ET. Nine Cincinnati batters had a hit, as Joey Bellini led the way with three base knocks. AJ Bumpass and Jace Mercer each had solo home runs, while Jeremy Johnson and Cole Murphy combined for four RBIs. The Cincinnati bullpen held USF to one run on four hits and four walks through the final seven innings. Nathan Moore worked three innings in relief and struck out three to earn the win. Korren Thompson earned the save after retiring the side in order in the ninth inning.
The Bulls jumped out to an early four-run lead and were led by Nick Gonzalez and Kyle Phillips who each had a pair of hits. USF starter Alec Wisely struck out six through 6.0 IP but gave up three runs on four hits. Logan Lyle pitched the final 2.1 innings for the Bulls and took the loss.
Wichita State 8, Memphis 4
Wichita State clinched its first American Athletic Conference series of the season with an 8-4 win over Memphis Saturday. The Shockers and Tigers play their series finale Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. Mason O’Brien tallied three hits, while Alex Jackson and Luke Ritter each had two. Ritter has reached safely in 34 games dating back to last season. The Shockers have won four in a row.
Down 3-0 in the third inning, the Shockers outscored the Tigers 8-1 through the remaining seven frames. Jordan Boyer delivered a two-run home run in the third inning. Wichita State’s Mitchell Walters struck out three and scattered only one hit through the final two innings to pick up his third save of the season. Jason Santana went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs to lead Memphis.
Tulane 3, Houston Baptist 2 (11)
Grant Mathews saved his best hit for last, as the redshirt junior sent a base knock up the middle in the bottom of the 11th inning to plate Kody Hoese and give Tulane an 8-4 walk-off win over Houston Baptist. The Green Wave clinched its fourth series of the season, as the final game of the set will be played Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
Mathews and Trevor Jensen each had three hits to lead Tulane at the dish. Starter Keagan Gillies struck out six through 6.2 innings pitched. The Green Wave’s pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts and seven shutout innings.
Houston 5, UConn 4
Houston’s Derrick Cherry hit a three-run RBI double in the fourth inning to fuel a five-run surge, as the Cougars evened their series against UConn with a 5-4 come-from-behind win Saturday. Sunday’s rubber match will be played at 12:30 p.m. ET in Houston. Nolan Bond and Fred Villarreal tossed the final 4.1 shutout innings out of the bullpen for the Cougars, scattering one hit and one walk. Bond earned the win, while Villarreal collected the save. Lael Lockhart and Kobe Hyland both had two hits to pace Houston’s offense.
John Toppa, Chris Winkel and Kyler Fedko each had RBIs in the opening inning for UConn to give the Huskies an early 3-0 lead. Michael Woodworth and Anthony Prato both had a pair of base knocks out of the top-two spots in UConn’s order. Starter Jeff Kersten struck out six through 3.2 innings of work, but gave up five runs and seven hits. The Huskies’ pitching staff combined for eight scoreless innings.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Sunday, March 24
UCF at ECU - Noon
UConn at Houston - 12:30 p.m.
Cincinnati at USF - 1 p.m.
Memphis at Wichita State - 2 p.m.
Houston Baptist at Tulane - 2 p.m.
All times Eastern and subject to change