STATISTICS
Tuesday, April 23 Results:
Highlights:
UCF, No. 11 ECU, Houston and Memphis each picked up wins in a 4-3 Tuesday for American Athletic Conference baseball teams. The conference improves to 31-15 against nonconference opponents in April and 146-95 overall against other leagues this season. The midweek action continues Wednesday with four games.
UCF 5, Bethune-Cookman 4 (10)
Matthew Mika went 3-for-5 with a home run and a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning, as the Knights edged Bethune-Cookman, 5-4. Tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the 10th, the Knights loaded the bases without swinging the bat with walks to Anthony George and Adams Torres, plus a hit by pitch by Jay Lyons. Mika stepped to the plate to end the game with an RBI single to left field. The senior finished the night with three RBIs and a home run, hitting a long ball in each of his last three games. UCF forced the Wildcats to strand 14 runners on base, the second most by an opponent this season. All nine UCF batters in the starting lineup reached base at least once. Dallas Beaver also had three hits in the win. The Knights will play their second-to-last home series of the year this weekend against Memphis.
Memphis 18, North Alabama 11
A season-best 18 runs on a season-high 17 hits propelled Memphis to an 18-11 victory against North Alabama on Tuesday evening at FedExPark. The Tigers exploded for 15 runs from the fourth through seventh innings to complete a midweek sweep of the Lions after coming out on top 3-2 Monday night. Memphis homered four times in the win. Hunter Goodman hit two home runs—his seventh and eighth of the year. Payton Marshall notched his third of the season, while Evan Bell connected on his first homer of the year. Four Tigers enjoyed three-hit nights as Goodman, Colton Neel, Kyle Ouellette and Cale Hennemann each tallied a trio of base knocks. Neel and Goodman each tallied four RBIs, as all nine starters scored a run. Memphis struck for multiple runs in four innings, including a pair of five-run surges in the fifth and seventh frames. The Tigers will hit the road for a three-game American series at UCF.
No. 7 Louisville 12, Cincinnati 0
Cincinnati dropped a 12-0 decision to No. 7 Louisville Tuesday night. Jeremy Johnson registered two hits to lead the Bearcats at the plate. Andrew Noelker logged his first collegiate start on the mound, going 3.1 innings with two runs on two hits. Cincinnati remains at home on Wednesday night to host Eastern Kentucky at 6 p.m. ET.
No. 11 ECU 8, UNCW 5
A four-run eighth inning lifted ECU to an 8-5 win over UNC Wilmington Tuesday night. With the win, the Pirates completed a season series sweep of the Seahawks after defeating them earlier this month. Bryant Packard hit three doubles and scored three runs out of the leadoff spot, while Seth Caddell added two hits, including a two-run RBI triple. Spencer Brickhouse drove in two runs with an RBI double, as eight Pirates registered at least one hit. Starter Trey Benton gave ECU 3.1 shutout innings, fanning six batters, while issuing no walks and scattering four hits. Zach Barnes earned the win in relief, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings. Alec Burleson took the mound with two down in the ninth and made the final out of the game to collect his fourth save of the year. ECU will head to Old Dominion Wednesday night.
Oklahoma 9, Wichita State 4
Wichita State fell 9-4 to Oklahoma in its final contest of an eight-game homestand Tuesday night. Jacob Katzfey went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run to lead the Shockers at the dish, while Hunter Gibson also registered a solo homer– his fourth round-tripper of the year. Wichita State hits the road for a three-game American series at Cincinnati this weekend.
Southeastern Louisiana 10, Tulane 3
Tulane took the lead twice within the first three innings of the game, but Southeastern Louisiana scored eight unanswered runs over the course of three innings to defeat the Green Wave 10-3. Freshman Hudson Haskin earned his third-consecutive game with three hits, smashing a two-run home run. Kody Hoese had two hits, which included taking back the lead nationally in home runs with his 21st long ball of the season. It will be a battle between the top of The American’s standings when Tulane travels to No. 11 ECU for a three-game series this weekend.
Houston 9, Sam Houston State 3
Joe Davis and Derrick Cherry combined for six hits and five RBIs, as Houston completed a three-game season sweep of Sam Houston State with a 9-3 win in the Don Sanders Cup finale. The Cougars have won eight of their last nine games. Three arms out of the Cougars’ bullpen kept Sam Houston State scoreless through the final five frames. Sean Bretz struck out four through 3.0 scoreless innings in relief to earn his first win of the year. Devon Roedahl retired the side in order in a clean ninth inning. A six-run fourth inning lifted Houston to victory. Davis ended the night with three hits and three RBIs. Cherry went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Tyler Bielamowicz drove in three runs, while Jared Triolo went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Houston heads to the Sunshine State for a three-game American series at USF this weekend.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Wednesday, April 24
Rhode Island at UConn - 3 p.m.
ECU at Old Dominion - 6 p.m.
Eastern Kentucky at Cincinnati - 6 p.m.
USF at Florida Gulf Coast - 6:30 p.m.
Friday, April 26
Memphis at UCF* - 6 p.m.
Wichita State at Cincinnati* - 6 p.m.
Tulane at ECU* - 6:30 p.m.
Houston at USF* (ADN) - 7 p.m.
UConn at Sam Houston State - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 27
Wichita State at Cincinnati* - 4 p.m.
UConn at Sam Houston State - 4 p.m.
Tulane at ECU* - 4 p.m.
Memphis at UCF* - 6 p.m.
Houston at USF* - 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 28
Wichita State at Cincinnati* - Noon
UConn at Sam Houston State - Noon
Tulane at ECU* - 1 p.m.
Houston at USF* - 1 p.m.
Memphis at UCF* - 1 p.m.
All times Eastern and subject to change
*Denotes conference game
All times Eastern and subject to change
*Denotes conference game