Feb. 22, 2000

Box Score

MEMPHIS, TN - The University of Memphis baseball team (0-5) lost their fifth game in a row, falling 9-4 on Tuesday afternoon to the Indians of Southeast Missouri State (6-2). Southeast Missouri jumped out early with a four-run first inning barrage, including a three run homer by designated hitter Phil Warren. The Tigers would battle back, but still fell short losing their fourth game in less than six days.

In the bottom of the first, sophomore center fielder Paul Reuer led off with a double and advanced to third when junior second baseman Gabe Interiano grounded out to third. Sophomore first baseman Jay Fik was the next batter and he ripped a double that scored Reuer for Memphis' first run, the only run of the inning that the Tigers would get. At the top of the third, Darin Kinsolving singled to lead off and eventually scored when Jeff Bourbon hit the Indians second home run of the game, giving Southeast Missouri a 6-1 lead. Memphis answered back with a run of their own as sophomore right fielder Keno Anderson, who had previously singled to lead off the inning, crossed home plate when Fik grounded out to first.

Southeast Missouri struck again in the fourth, when Denver Stuckey and Kevin Meyer scored after a single by Clemente Bonilla, making it an 8-2 ballgame going into the bottom of the fourth. The Indians were not through, as they scored the winning run and their third home run of the game when Kevin Meyer slammed an opposite field solo shot just over the left field wall, leaving the score 9-2 going into the bottom of the sixth. Memphis however, would not strike again until the bottom of the eighth when senior left fielder Tony Lomeli was sent to pinch hit for junior right fielder Jonathan Leicester. Lomeli doubled to lead off and would advance to third when senior designated hitter Henry Castor (pinch hitting for senior designated hitter Nate Sams) grounded out to second. The next hitter was sophomore catcher Barrett Smith (White Station H.S.), who jacked a two-run shot making the score 9-4. That was as close as the Tigers would get as the Indians closed out the game in the ninth after allowing three straight walks to open the inning.

Smith lead the Tigers going 3-for-4, including a two-run homer and 2 RBI. Reuer went 2-for-2 while drawing three walks on the afternoon.

For the Indians, Jeffrey Hilz got the win as his record now stands at 2-1. For the Tigers, it was junior pitcher Layne Dawson taking the loss. Dawson the starter for Memphis, went 2.1 innings, allowing seven hits and six earned runs while striking out only one.

Coach Jeff Hopkins after the game said, "We dug ourselves a hole we couldn't get out of. It wasn't so much our poor play as it was their talent."

The Tigers next home game is Friday February 25th at 6 p.m. as they host Army in their first game of the Service Academies Classic which will be played at USA Stadium in Millington.