STATISTICS
Wednesday, May 8 Results:
Highlights
Two American Athletic Conference baseball teams capitalized on Power 6 wins, as No. 8 ECU and UCF both defeated top-20 opponents on the road Wednesday night. ECU scored eight runs in the first three innings on the way to a 9-5 win at No. 11 North Carolina. UCF then held off No. 17 Miami (Fla.) 8-7 to earn its third midweek win over a ranked opponent this season. Memphis also led No. 5 Mississippi State for five innings, but the Tigers dropped a close 10-9 decision in Starkville, Miss. Eight of the conference’s nine teams have combined for 16 wins against top-30 nonconference opponents this season. American baseball teams return to conference play this weekend.
No. 8 ECU 9, No. 11 North Carolina 5
Alec Burleson worked four innings on the mound and drove in a pair of runs, while Jake Washer belted his first-career grand slam helping No. 8 ECU to a 9-5 win over the Tar Heels. Washer's grand slam highlighted ECU's six-run first inning as the Pirates jumped out early. Burleson (5-1) picked up the win on a staff night allowing one run on two hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts over four frames. ECU pounded out 11 hits on the night and improved to 24-1 when reaching double-digit base hits. Seven Pirates registered at least one hit with Bryant Packard leading the way going 3-for-5. Lane Hoover and Washer tallied two hits each. ECU will continue its seven-game road trip this weekend when it travels to Wichita State for an American series.
UCF 8, No. 17 Miami (Fla.) 7
A six-run fifth inning guided UCF to an 8-7 win at Miami (Fla.). The Knights improved to 13-1 in midweek games this season, including wins over No. 3 Florida, No. 14 Florida State and No. 17 Miami (Fla.). Jack Sinclair took the mound with two outs the go-ahead run on base in the ninth and rolled off a seven-pitch strikeout to end the game and notch his first save of the year. The Knights recorded five extra-base knocks on nine hits, as three UCF batters had multi-hit outings. The top of the order got it done for the Knights, as Ray Alejo, Matthew Mika and Tyler Osik each drove in runs during UCF’s six-run rally in the fifth. Chris Williams earned the win in relief, tossing three scoreless innings, scattering two hits and a walk. The Black and Gold has won eight of its last 10 games as UCF will have the weekend off before returning to action next Wednesday.
No. 5 Mississippi State 10, Memphis 9
A seven-run opening inning wasn’t enough for Memphis, as the Tigers narrowly fell 10-9 at Mississippi State. Offensively, Cale Hennemann had a 2-for-4 night and drove in a pair of runs. Kyle Ouellette, Payton Marshall, Alec Trela and Hennemann—Memphis' 5-8 hitters in the lineup—each tallied two RBIs. After jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning, Mississippi State battled back with four runs over the first two frames, eventually tying the game at 7-7 with three runs in the fifth. Marshall hit a two-run RBI single in the seventh to give the Tigers a 9-8 advantage, but Mississippi State rallied back with a pair of runs in the eighth to clinch the 10-9 lead for good. The Tigers return to FedExPark this weekend for their home series finale against Cincinnati.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Friday, May 10
USF at UConn* - 1 p.m.
ECU at Wichita State* - 7 p.m.
Cincinnati at Memphis* - 7 p.m.
Tulane at Houston* - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 11
USF at UConn* - 1 p.m.
ECU at Wichita State* - 3 p.m.
Cincinnati at Memphis* - 3 p.m.
Tulane at Houston* - 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 12
USF at UConn* - 1 p.m.
ECU at Wichita State* - 2 p.m.
Tulane at Houston* - 2 p.m.
Cincinnati at Memphis* - 2 p.m.
All times Eastern and subject to change
*Denotes conference game