Feb. 24, 2001

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Junior designated-hitter Paul Reuer led the charge for the Tigers going 3-for-5 on the day, as Memphis fended off a late rally by Army, to win their second game of the Service Academies Classic 11-7.

Reuer came through with a triple, two singles, two runs scored and three RBI's. Junior center fielder Ryan O'Malley was 2-for-3 with a double, single and three RBI's.

Memphis got started in the top of the first, scoring six quick runs off a series of walks and two key singles by freshman right fielder Josh Payne (Houston H.S.) and junior center fielder O'Malley, to go up 6-0, entering the bottom half of the inning.

In the top of the third, the Tigers got three more runs after Reuer slapped a triple into the gap in right-center, which scored sophomore catcher Ricky Clinton and redshirt-freshman left fielder Keno Anderson. Senior shortstop Gabe Interiano came through for Memphis on the very next at-bat, slapping a single through the middle of the infield which brought Reuer in for Memphis' third run of the inning and extended the lead to nine.

The Cadets then took advantage of a Tiger throwing error in the bottom half of the inning and managed to get two runs of their own, making the score 9-2, after three innings of play.

The U of M entered double digits in the fourth when O'Malley doubled down the left field line to score Payne and give Memphis a 10-2 lead after three-and-a-half innings.

The Cadets managed a late rally in the bottom of the ninth, capitalizing on two Tiger errors to pull within four runs but redshirt-sophomore Joshua Cartwright came on in relief and closed the door on Army for Memphis' fifth consecutive win.

Brian Scioletti paced the Army attack, going 2-for-4 with a triple, double and three RBI's.

Senior pitcher Layne Dawson (1-0) got his first win of the season, going for five full innings of work while striking out five and allowing only one hit. Cartwright came on in the bottom of the ninth and retired the only two batters he faced.

The loss went to Zach Watkins (0-1) after going seven full innings and allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits while walking four and striking out four.

Sophomore catcher Ricky Clinton went 2-for-4 with a home run, triple, three runs scored and five RBI's to help lead the University of Memphis Tiger baseball team (6-0), to a 9-3 win over the Falcons of Air Force (10-5), Saturday evening.

Memphis will now move into the championship game where they will have a re-match with Air Force at 1 p.m.

The Tigers have now won six straight for the first time since 1991 when the U of M went 7-0 to begin the year.

Memphis continued to pour on the offense and also enjoyed another quality pitching outing from senior pitcher Jarod Wilson. Wilson (1-0) went for six full innings, allowing only two hits and one walk while fanning four, in his first win of the season.

The Tigers managed to at least send a minimum of four batters to the plate in every inning except for the second when the Falcons retired the order in succession.

After two scoreless innings, the Tigers got on the board after sophomore catcher Ricky Clinton blasted a solo home run (1st career) over the scoreboard in left which put Memphis ahead after two-and-a-half, 1-0.

The Tigers came back the next inning and exploded for five more runs, sparked by a bases-loaded triple from Clinton down the right field line. Two batters later, Reuer singled to short right which brought Clinton home and opened up a 5-0 lead before Memphis would eventually end with a 6-0 lead after three-and-a-half.

The Falcons closed the gap with two runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh, off a double by Daniel Petro which made the score 7-2.

Both teams would add to their totals but not before Memphis could wrap-up their sixth straight win of 2001.

Freshman shortstop Michael Lewis (Germantown H.S.) went 3-for-5 with a double, and two singles and two RBI's. Clinton's five RBI's already passed his total for all of 2000, he also threw out a base runner as well.

Sophomore pitcher Nick Rogers earned his first save of the year, going for three innings and allowing only two earned runs on four hits while striking out five, inlcuding the last two Falcon batters who went down looking.