STATISTICS
Saturday, May 11 Results:
USF 3, UConn 2 | USF 3, UConn 1
After dropping the series opener, USF swept UConn in a doubleheader to clinch a key road set. The Bulls won 3-2 in Game 1 before sealing the series with a 3-1 win in the second game of the twin bill.
It was a pitcher's duel in the first game, as there was no score heading into the bottom of the sixth. The Huskies struck first in the frame to make it 1-0. The Bulls immediately answered with one in the top of the seventh, then scored two in the eighth to take a 3-1 lead. UConn homered (Pat Winkel) to lead off the bottom half, making it 3-2. In the bottom of the ninth, the Huskies loaded the bases with two outs, but USF was able to escape, forcing a rubber match. Collin Sullivan pitched 6.0 innings for the second-straight week. He allowed just one unearned run on four hits. For UConn, starter Jeff Kersten went 6.1 innings, scattering one run on five hits with five punch outs.
UConn took a 1-0 lead in the second game, plating a run in the third. USF finally broke through with two outs in the seventh. Chris Chatfield singled to center, tying the game. In the next at-bat, freshman Julio Cortez added to his big day with a two-run RBI single, making it 3-1. Cortez led the offense in the second game of the doubleheader, going 3-for-4. Seniors Joe Genord and Garrett Zech both went 2-for-4. Senior Alec Wisely pitched 7.0 innings in the second game, allowing one run on four hits. Chatfield had the go-ahead RBI in the first game and the tying RBI in the second game of the doubleheader.
The Huskies say good bye to J.O. Christian Field with 541-287-8 all-time record, as Saturday marked the final two games played at the historic UConn home diamond, which has been around since 1968.
Wichita State 3, No. 8 ECU 1
Wichita State senior righthander Clayton McGinness tossed his first-career complete-game, as the Shockers defeated No. 8 ECU 3-1 in the second game of a three-game American series Saturday afternoon at Eck Stadium to even the set. The victory marked the first win over a top-10 team for the Shockers since 2014, when they downed then No. 9 Cal State Fullerton, 4-2. McGinness threw 103 pitches and went the full nine innings, allowing one only earned run on five hits, with four strikeouts and only one walk on the way to his fifth triumph on the mound this season. Jacob Katzfey paced Wichita State at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a RBI, while Hunter Gibson drove in what proved to be the game-winning run.
After five scoreless innings, the Pirates broke the tie with an RBI single from Ryder Giles in the sixth. Wichita State responded quickly with a single from Jordan Boyer in the seventh inning that caused an error, allowing Katzfey to cross home plate. Ross Cadena and Brady Slavens tallied RBI singles in the eighth to hand the Shockers a 3-1 lead for good. ECU starter Jake Kuchmaner had another solid start, going 6.2 innings, giving up one run on six hits and three walks, while fanning eight batters. A rubber match is set for 2 p.m. ET in Wichita on Sunday.
Memphis 11, Cincinnati 4
Using a five-run fourth inning, Memphis evened the series with eight hits and 11 walks to defeat Cincinnati 11-4 Saturday night at FedExPark. Seven of the nine Memphis hitters recorded a hit, including a multi-hit effort from Alec Trela. Hunter Goodman and Cale Hennemann each recorded a pair of RBIs. Alex Hicks picked up the win on the mound after posting six innings of work. The senior struck out seven batters en route to his fourth win of the season. Alex Smith was awarded a save following three clean innings on the mound. After Cincinnati regained an advantage at 3-2, Memphis answered with five runs in the home half. Eight different Cincinnati batters had a hit, as Wyatt Stapp led the Bearcats’ offense with two base knocks. Sunday's rubber game is set for 1 p.m. ET.
Houston 12, Tulane 7 | Tulane 9, Houston 7 (10)
Houston and Tulane split a Saturday doubleheader, playing for over eight hours on the day. Houston defeated Tulane 12-7 in Game 1 before Tulane rallied from behind in Game 2 for a 9-7 extra-inning victory. The series finale is set for 2 p.m. ET Sunday.
Houston pounded out 13 hits, as Jared Triolo and Derrick Cherry both went 3-for-5 to power the Cougars’ offense in Game 1. Triolo had a double, three RBIs and two runs scored, while Cherry homered in the third. Closer Fred Villarreal (5-2) picked up the win in his first of two appearances on the day, tossing the final 2.1 innings. Villarreal scattered two hits and recorded one strikeout.
The Cougars scored six runs in the first three innings and overcame a five-run third from Tulane. After the Green Wave took the lead, Tyler Bielamowicz’s RBI single tied the contest at 7-7 in the seventh inning. The Cougars then scored five runs in the eighth for the 12-7 final. Both sides had double-digit hits, as three Green Wave batters turned in a multi-hit effort. Kody Hoese led Tulane with a 2-for-4 showing, three RBIs and two home runs to increase his total to a conference-high 23 long balls on the year.
Game 2 took five hours to complete, as the contest finished in the early morning Sunday. Tulane tied the game with a pair of runs in the ninth and plated four more in extra innings to even the series with a 9-7 win. The Green Wave produced 11 hits in the victory, taking the lead three times. Kody Hoese finished the game going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored, followed by Grant Mathews who drove in four on a pair of hits. Josh Bates (3-0), who pitched for the second time on the day, earned the win allowing two runs on a hit with a pair of strikeouts, while Krishna Raj earned his first collegiate save as he closed the door in the 10th. Bates had a big strikeout in the bottom of the ninth with the bases juiced to send the game to extra innings. After Tulane regained the lead in the 10th, Houston scored a pair of runs in the home half of the frame, but Raj found the final two outs to seal the win for the Green Wave. Four players had a pair of hits to lead the Cougars at the plate.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE.
Sunday, May 12
Cincinnati at Memphis* - 1 p.m.
ECU at Wichita State* - 2 p.m.
Tulane at Houston* - 2 p.m.
All times Eastern and subject to change
*Denotes conference game