CLEARWATER, Florida – Behind a solid performance on the mound from Landon Gartman, No. 7 Memphis took down No. 2 UCF, 7-6, in the third game of the 2022 TicketSmarter American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Tuesday at BayCare Ballpark.
With the win, the Tigers (26-27) will take on the winner of Wichita State/Houston on Thursday, May 26 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. The Knights (32-24) will face the loser of the Shockers and Cougars Wednesday, May 25 at approximately 6:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
Gartman (7-1), the 2022 American Athletic Conference Newcomer Pitcher of the Year, tossed seven full innings, allowing three runs and four hits while striking out six Knights.
After the Tigers struck first with a run in the second, Noah Orlando hit his seventh home run of the season, a 2-run shot in the third, to give UCF a 2-1 lead.
Memphis would score three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to take command. Blake Daniels hit a bases-loaded triple in the fourth to give the Tigers the lead, while Logan Kohler added an RBI single in the fifth before two more Tigers came home to score on a UCF error.
The Knights would score a run in the fifth and eighth on RBI singles by Gephry Pena and Michael Brooks, respectively, to set up the ninth. Pablo Ruiz singled and Noah Orlando walked to chase Dalton Kendrick. Blake Wimberley came on to pitch and pinch hitter Andrew Brait walked to load the bases. Ruiz scored on a wild pitch, while Orlando came home on an RBI groundout by Pena. Tom Josten grounded out to first and Wimberley struck out Ben McCabe to finish the game.
Ben Vespi (6-4) took the loss for UCF, allowing three runs in 3.1 innings of work.
2022 TicketSmarter American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship
Schedule
Tuesday, May 24
Game 1: No. 4 Cincinnati 8, No. 5 Tulane 1
Game 2: No. 1 East Carolina 7, No. 8 South Florida
Game 3: No. 7 Memphis 7, No. 2 UCF 6
Game 4: No. 6 Wichita State vs. No. 3 Houston | 8:49 p.m.
Wednesday, May 25
Game 5: South Florida vs. Tulane | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 6: Loser of Game 4 vs. UCF | 47 minutes after Game 5 | ESPN+
Thursday, May 26
Game 7: Cincinnati vs. East Carolina | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 8: Memphis vs. Winner of Game 4 | 47 minutes after Game 7 | ESPN+
Friday, May 27
Game 9: Winner of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 7 | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 10: Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 8 | 47 minutes after Game 9 | ESPN+
Saturday, May 28
Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13 (If Necessary): Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 | 47 minutes after Game 12 | ESPN+
Game 14 (If Necessary): Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 | 47 minutes after Game 13 | ESPN+
Sunday, May 29
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS