Feb. 15, 2000

Box Score

MEMPHIS, TN - The University of Memphis opened the 2000 season today at Nat Buring Field against the University of Tennessee Martin. The Tigers jumped out to an early lead and held it until the seventh inning, when Martin rallied and put four runs on the board. The Tigers looked both impressive and rusty at times, since it was their first real action of the season. The Skyhawks of Tennessee Martin had played two games over the weekend, and came into today's game still seeking their first win.

Memphis jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning when new Tiger third baseman Tyler Shelton singled into left field, bringing in Paul Reuers from second. The Skyhawks evened the score in the top of the second inning after Henry Castor, the Tigers' starting pitcher, misjudged a routine throw to first, allowing Dan Stephens to move to third. Then a past ball tied the game at one. Both teams scored one run in the third inning, and the Tigers regained the lead in the fourth, when red shirt sophomore Randall Tatum ripped a single past Skyhawks' pitcher Heath Doyle. Two batters later, Paul Reuer doubled Tatum home.

The trouble for Memphis came in the seventh inning. Jason Wiedmeyer had come into to replace Castor on the mound at the start of the fifth inning, and promptly retired six of the first eight batters that he faced. However, in the seventh inning, he began to struggle finding the strike zone, and walked two batters in a row after giving up a single and hitting one other batter with a pitch. Junior College transfer Jarod Wilson came into replace Wiedmeyer, and the Tigers eventually got out of the seventh after giving up four runs. Memphis gained one run back in the bottom of the seventh on a sac fly RBI from sophomore catcher Barrett Smith, but that was the last offense that the Tigers could muster, and the final score was 6-4, Skyhawks.

Tiger head coach Jeff Hopkins was disappointed in his team's performance, but is still very optimistic about the season. "We did not play as well as we are capable of playing today. That lefthander (Doyle) tied us up in knots," said Hopkins. "But with our returning position players and strong pitching, I think we will have a successful season."

The Tigers have their first road trip this weekend when they travel to Monroe, Louisiana to face the University of Louisiana at Monroe for a three game series. They return home on Tuesday, the February 22, to face Southeast Missouri in a 2:00 game at Nat Buring Field.