Feb. 25, 2001

Box Score

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - The University of Memphis Tiger baseball team (6-1) had their six-game winning streak snapped on Sunday afternoon in the championship game of the 2001 Service Academies Classic, falling to the Falcons of Air Force (11-5) 3-1.

The game was pre-determined to go only seven innings because of Air Force's travel arrangements.

Memphis had knocked off Air Force last night 9-3 but just couldn't get their offense in gear, in this game. Starting pitcher Johnny Koegel (2-1) however, was superb for the Falcons going the entire game and allowing only four hits, one earned run while striking out 10, for his second win of the year.

Even in the loss, Memphis' second place finish is still an improvement over last year's performance in this same tournament which had resulted in a last-place finish for the Tigers.

In the re-match, the Falcons got out to an early 1-0 lead entering the bottom of the second after Mike Thiessen slammed the first pitch of the inning over the wall in left. Memphis quickly countered with a run in the bottom half of the same inning when freshman right fielder Josh Payne (Houston H.S.) led off the inning with a double to left field and eventually scored from third which tied the game at one after two.

Air Force extended their lead by one in the third when Daniel Petro scored off a sacrifice-fly to center by Brian Labasco which made the score 2-1. The Falcons then added one more in the fifth to solidify the win and also the right to take home first place in the 2001 Service Academies Classic.

Payne finished with a double and a run scored to go 1-for-3 on the day. Junior pitcher Ryan O'Malley (1-1) went for four-and-two-thirds of work, allowing two earned runs on six hits while walking one and fanning four, during his first loss of the season.

Thiessen went 2-for-3 with a home run and also took home tournament MVP honors, as well.

The 2001 Service Academies Classic all-Tournament team was also announced and the Tigers placed four on the list. Representing Memphis were: Freshman shortstop Michael Lewis (Germatown H.S.), Payne, junior designated-hitter Paul Reuer and senior pitcher Jarod Wilson.

Lewis was 6-for-13 on the weekend with a double, three runs scored, two RBI's and a slugging percentage of .538. Payne went 5-for-16 with a triple, double, two runs scored, three RBI's and came up with two key plays from his right field position. Reuer was 7-for-16 with a triple, five runs scored and four RBI's and had an on-base percentage of .526 while batting from the lead-off spot. Wilson went for six innings last night in the win against Air Force and allowed zero runs on two hits while striking out four, for his first win in as many tries.

For the tournament, Memphis as a team ranked first in batting average (.294) and also first in ERA (2.12).

The All-Tournament team is as follows:

2001 Service Academy Spring Classic All-Tournament Team

Price Paramore, Air Force Mike Thiessen, Air Force Michael Tufte, Air Force Johnny Koegel, Air Force Paul Reuer, Memphis Michael Lewis, Memphis Jarod Wilson, Memphis Josh Payne, Memphis John Cocca, Navy Nick Sylvester, Navy Miguel Gastellum, Army Brandon Boyce, Army

Tournament MVP- Mike Thiessen, Air Force