STATISTICS
Friday, May 3 Results:
Highlights:
No. 8 ECU swept a doubleheader at Cincinnati to clinch its sixth American series win of the season, while UConn, USF and Tulane joined the Pirates in opening the new month on a high note Friday night. The race to the top of The American’s standings continues Saturday with four league games.
No. 8 ECU 9, Cincinnati 4 | No. 8 ECU 6, Cincinnati 3
No. 8 ECU won its sixth American series following a road doubleheader sweep at Cincinnati Friday at Marge Schott Stadium. With the win, the Pirates improve to 35-11 overall and 15-2 in American play to lead the conference. The Pirates are four games ahead of second-place Tulane (10-5). After winning the first contest 9-4, ECU completed the twin bill sweep of the Bearcats with a 6-3 victory in Game 2. ECU and Cincinnati will close out the three-game series on Sunday afternoon.
ECU southpaw starter Jake Agnos (7-2) earned the win in Game 1, tossing six shutout frames where he allowed three hits, walked three and struck out eight. With the six scoreless frames, the lefty pushed his consecutive shutout streak to 19.1 innings. The trio of Spencer Brickhouse, Alec Burleson and Jake Washer each tallied two hits, while Burleson, Thomas Francisco and Washer plated a pair. ECU wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard as it plated four runs in the top of the first inning on four hits and never looked back.
Jake Kuchmaner (5-1) picked up the win in Game 2 after allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits with four walks and a pair of strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Evan Voliva notched his fourth save of the season working one-third of an inning where he came in with runners on the corners and two away. After ECU took the lead, Cincinnati pulled within one, 4-3, after scoring three runs in the fourth stanza. Jace Mercer registered a two-run RBI double during that frame. But ECU responded with a pair of runs in the fifth, pushing its lead to 6-3.
The Pirates tallied 10 hits in the night cap and improved to 22-1 when reaching double-digit base knocks in a contest. Seven different players registered a hit with Brickhouse, Burleson and Brady Lloyd each collecting two. Bryant Packard drove in three runs.
UConn 4, Wichita State 0
UConn clinched a 4-0 series-opening win over Wichita State at Dunkin' Donuts Park behind a stellar performance from its pitching staff. The Huskies limited the Shockers to three hits, while three pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts. All-America southpaw Mason Feole tossed a gem, going 7.0 scoreless innings with a season-high 10 Ks, two hits and two walks. CJ Dandeneau and Jacob Wallace combined for 2.0 clean innings in relief, scattering one hit to seal the shutout victory. Wallace entered the game in the ninth to make the final out and picked up his conference-leading 10th save of the season after striking out the final batter with two down and runners on base.
On the offensive front, UConn was led by John Toppa out of the leadoff spot with a 2-for-3 showing and one run scored. Kyler Feko hit a two-run RBI single to cap a three-run third inning. Thad Phillips drove in his 16th run of the season in the seventh to make it a 4-0 ballgame. Seven Huskies ended the game with at least one base knock.
Wichita State starter Liam Eddy pitched 6.0 innings, scattering three runs on six hits and four walks to take the loss. The Shockers used four arms out of the bullpen. Wichita State stranded 11 UConn base runners. The Shockers and Huskies return to Dunkin’ Donuts Park to wrap up the series with a Saturday doubleheader.
USF 10, Memphis 7
Julio Cortez drove in six runs, as USF captured a 10-7 series-opening victory at Memphis Friday night. The Bulls have won seven of their last eight games. USF scored nine runs in the first four innings, capped by a grand slam from Cortez in the fourth frame. Both teams pounded out 13 hits in the high-scoring series opener. Five Bulls registered a multi-hit showing. Joe Genord (2-for-5) and Cortez (3-for-4) combined for five hits and nine RBIs. Nelson Alvarez recorded his seventh save of the year after tossing 2.1 shutout innings to close the door. He fanned three and scattered three walks and a hit. The ballgame consisted of 27 hits, as five Tigers also had multiple hits in the contest. Memphis was led by Colton Neel who went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs. The top of the Tigers’ order combined for seven hits and six runs scored. First pitch of Game 2 is Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.
Tulane 6, UCF 2.
Tulane starter Kaleb Roper struck out 11 through eight innings of work in a 6-2 win over UCF to open an American series Friday night. Tulane retained its second-place spot in The American’s standings with a 10-5 record, four games behind first-place ECU.
After giving up a solo homer to Ray Alejo in the opening inning, Roper came one punch out away from tying his career-high. Scattering four hits, one earned run and a walk, the righthander retired 12-straight UCF batters and 18 of 19 from the first until the seventh. The Green Wave earned four of their six runs in the first two innings, getting a pair of insurance runs in the sixth. Seven of the 12 Tulane hits went for extra bases, as Trevor Jensen, Hudson Haskin, Jonathon Artigues and Grant Mathews each had pair of hits. Alejo and Dallas Beaver each homered to pace UCF at the plate. Grant Schuermann went seven innings in his start for the Knights but gave up six earned runs on 12 hits and took the loss.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Saturday, May 4
Wichita State at UConn* (Fox) – 12:30 p.m. (DH)
USF at Memphis* - 3 p.m.
UCF at Tulane* - 7:30 p.m.
UNLV at Houston - 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 5
ECU at Cincinnati* - 1 p.m.
UNLV at Houston - 2 p.m.
USF at Memphis* - 2 p.m.
UCF at Tulane* - 2 p.m.
All times Eastern and subject to change
*Denotes conference game