Feb. 19, 2011

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

Memphis 8, Evansville 4

Evansville (0-2)	000 102 100 - 4  7 1
Memphis (2-0)		300 301 10x - 8 15 0

Senior Ryan Holland fanned five in 6.1 innings and the Memphis offense supported him with 15 hits en route to an 8-4 win over Evansville, Saturday afternoon at FedExPark. With the victory, the Tigers (2-0) clinch the season-opening series. They go for the sweep on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

After striking with a staggering six runs in the first inning of the season opener, Memphis struck early again in Game 2, crossing three runs in the opening frame. Drew Martinez and Chad Zurcher were in usual form, reaching on a single and double to set the table for Jacob Wilson. Wilson's at-bat gave FedExPark's crowd a bit of a scare. The junior lined a hit off the ear of Evansville starter Zach Taylor and the ball caromed from the pitcher's mound to the on-deck circle beside the Evansville dugout. Martinez scored easily and Zurcher raced around from second for a 2-0 lead. T.J. Rich made it 3-0, plating Wilson on a sac fly.

Holland cruised through the first three frames without giving up a run before Evansville got on the board in the fourth on doubles by Greg Wallace and Trentt Copeland.

Memphis answered with a three-spot in the home half of the fourth to expand its lead to five runs. Wilson, who finished the day with three hits (all doubles), highlighted the inning with a two-run double, that scored Zurcher and Bryan Picou.

Copeland struck again, this time with a two-run double in the fourth that made it a 6-3 game in favor of the Tigers. Memphis again pulled the momentum back into the home dugout by countering with a run for a 7-3 lead.

Holland ran into control problems in the seventh, issuing leadoff walks to Chris Pearson and Tim Bodine. However, he held the Aces to just one run in the inning. Ben Paullus came on to close the door over the final 2.2 innings to earn the save.

Wilson and Chapman led the Memphis offense with three hits each. Wilson drove in four. Martinez and Zurcher combined for four hits and three runs. Adam McClain and Picou also collected two hits.

Evansville's starter, Taylor was tagged with the loss after giving up three first-inning scores.

For more post-game interviews, including chats with pitchers Ryan Holland and Ben Paullus, click here.