Feb. 21, 2001

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis Tiger baseball team (3-0) knocked off the Skyhawks of Tennessee-Martin (0-2) on Wednesday afternoon, 6-1. Fueled by 12 team hits and continued stellar play from junior second baseman Daniel Uggla and freshman right fielder Josh Payne (Houston H.S.) (a combined 5-for-7 on the day), the Tigers are now 3-0 on the season.

Uggla, who was on fire this past weekend, against Lipscomb continued the trend and picked up a home run and a double, going 2-for-3 on the day. Payne was equally lethal, going 3-for-4 including a triple (Tigers' first of 2001) and scored the U of M's last run off a balk, all this after smashing a solo home run on opening day.

Memphis capitalized off a late two-out rally in the bottom of the first, getting two runs off a double from redshirt-junior Jay Fik (Christian Brothers H.S.) and a late single from senior third baseman Tyler Shelton to go ahead, 2-0.

The lead increased by two in the bottom of the fifth, after a wild pitch scored redshirt-sophomore center fielder Keno Anderson. Two pitches later, a solo bomb over the wall in left by Uggla made the score 4-0 after five.

Uggla came through again in the bottom of the seventh, drilling a single to left-center which scored freshman shortstop Michael Lewis (Germantown H.S.) from second, making the score 5-0 after seven. In the eighth, the Tigers went back to work and got another run after Payne ripped a triple into the gap in right field and then eventually scored off a balk, committed by Skyhawk pitcher Brad Meadows.

Junior pitcher/outfielder Ryan O'Malley went for four innings of work and gave up two hits, walked one and struck out two in his first win of the year.

"I felt really comfortable on the mound", said O'Malley. "It's nice knowing your defense is so strong and all you have to do is throw strikes and they'll take care of the rest."

Senior pitcher Jarod Wilson came in for relief duty and allowed two hits and walked two in two innings of work. Senior Layne Dawson and sophomore Nick Rogers came on to end the game in short relief with Rogers giving up a hit and an unearned run in his first outing of the year.

Curtis Wooten led the way for UT-Martin going 1-for-4 with a triple. Jason Sullivan picked up the loss for the Skyhawks, going for five full while allowing eight hits but still struck out seven.

"The pitchers threw well and our defense was strong again," said Head Coach Dave Anderson. "I thought we swung the bats nicely, considering the wind was blustering so badly."