March 6, 2010

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

Oakland (1-4)       000 001 000 - 1  3 2
Memphis (3-6)       200 302 00x - 7 14 0

Memphis 7, Oakland 1

Senior right-hander Ryan Fraser struck out a career-high nine and the offense erupted for 14 hits as the University of Memphis baseball team evened the weekend series with a 7-1 win over Oakland at FedExPark on Saturday afternoon.

The Tigers, who improve to 3-6 on the year, jumped out to a five-run cushion after four innings and Fraser never let the Golden Grizzlies settle into the contest. The Memphis senior surrendered just three hits and was perfect through three frames. He also held Oakland scoreless through five and worked out of a pair of bases loaded jams in the sixth before handing the ball to Marc Ashley, who tossed 1.1 innings of no-hit ball. Chase Joiner finished the game with a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. The three Tigers pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts.

Memphis got on the board early, crossing two runs in the first. Drew Martinez and Chad Zurcher led off with consecutive singles and both scored on RBI-singles by Jacob Wilson and Phillip Chapman.

A two-run double off the bat of Tyler Huelsing highlighted a three-run fourth that put the game away. Huelsing's double was his team-leading sixth of the year.

Oakland got on the board in the sixth on a sac fly, but Memphis answered with a tally of its own in the bottom of the inning. Zurcher, who went 3-for-4 on the day, reached on a bunt single, stole second and third and scored on a single up the middle by Heith Hatfield.

Kyle Teague was the losing pitcher. He was touched for five runs on nine hits in just 4.1 innings of work.

The Tiger offense got three hits from Martinez, Zurcher and Chapman. Zurcher scored three times, while Martinez crossed twice. Rick Russell also had multiple hits in the contest.

The Tigers and Golden Grizzlies will battle for the series win on Sun., Mar. 7. First pitch at FedExPark is scheduled for 1 p.m.