STATISTICS
Friday, May 17 Results:
Highlights:
UConn and No. 6 ECU both clinched their final American Athletic Conference series of the regular season Friday night, while Cincinnati, Houston and USF each evened their sets with Game 2 wins to force three Saturday rubber games to close out the regular season.
Houston 2, UCF 0
Houston first baseman Joe Davis hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning, as the Cougars evened the series at UCF with a 2-0 shutout win. Saturday’s rubber game will be played at 6 p.m. ET in Orlando, Fla. Clay Aguilar struck out six through the first four innings for Houston, while Sean Bretz scattered a hit through two innings out of the bullpen and earned the win. Fred Villarreal picked up his 10th save of the year after pitching the final 3.0 clean innings. Davis and Brad Burckel both had two hits to lead Houston’s offense. Matthew Mika went 3-for-4 with a ninth-inning double for the Knights. UCF starter Jordan Spicer went 6.0 shutout innings, striking out six in the no decision.
No. 6 ECU 5, Memphis 3
No. 6 ECU secured its second American record in as many nights, as the Pirates became the first conference team to win 20 games in league play with a 5-3 win over Memphis to clinch the series. ECU has won each of its eight American series this season, earning the conference’s top seed in the tournament next week. ECU struck for two in the first and fourth innings. Five different Pirates drove in a run, as Bryant Packard and Thomas Francisco each had multi-hit outings. ECU starter Jake Kuchmaner went 7.1 innings, striking out seven while walking one. He surrendered a pair of earned runs on five hits. Alec Burleson closed the door, using 10 pitches to toss a clean ninth. Kyle Ouellette registered a two-hit night to lead six Tigers with a base knock at the plate. Freshman Hunter Goodman hit his 13th home run of the season. The two teams’ regular season finale is set for a 1 p.m. ET first pitch Saturday.
USF 2, Wichita State 0
USF starter Collin Sullivan struck out seven in 9.0 innings of work and held Wichita State to two hits in a critical 2-0 shutout win over the Shockers. Sullivan’s performance on the mound kept the Bulls’ alive, as USF and Wichita State will battle for the final spot in The American Championship in Saturday’s rubber game at 1 p.m. ET in Tampa, Fla. Six Bulls had a hit, as Austin Bodrato drove in the only two runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth with a single. Sullivan retired the side in order five times, issuing three walks and tossing 120 pitches in his second-career complete-game performance. He also went the distance against the Shockers in the conference tournament last season.
UConn 10, Tulane 6
UConn scored three runs in the sixth and three more in the ninth on the way to a 10-6 Game 2 victory at Tulane to clinch a key American series. The two clubs wrap up their regular season slates Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. After Tulane freshman Hudson Haskin hit a two-run homer in the ninth, UConn closer Jacob Wallace took the mound, striking out the side in order with 16 pitches. UConn freshman Pat Winkel had another big night at the plate, driving in three runs with three hits and three runs scored. Seven different Huskies in the lineup had a hit, drove in a run and crossed home plate as Anthony Prato and David Langer joined Winkel with a trio of hits. Three Tulane batters had multiple hits, as UConn stranded 12 Green Wave base runners.
Cincinnati 10, Xavier 4
Cincinnati evened its final regular season series with a 10-4 win over Xavier Friday night. The Bearcats posted five scoring innings, pushing three runs across in both the fourth and ninth innings. Mitch Holding led four Cincinnati batters with multiple hits, going 3-for-5 with four RBIs, three runs scored, a double and a home run. Jace Mercer, A.J. Bumpass and Cole Murphy each recorded two hits, combining for five runs. AJ Kullman pitched the final 2.2 scoreless innings, striking out five and earning his first save of the year. The two teams will wrap up the series at Great American Ball Park Saturday night after the Reds take on the Dodgers.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Saturday, May 18
Memphis at ECU - 1 p.m.*
Wichita State at USF - 1 p.m.*
UConn at Tulane - 2 p.m.*
Houston at UCF - 6 p.m.*
Cincinnati at Xavier - 7:30 p.m.
All times Eastern and are subject to change
* Denotes conference game