April 7, 2000

Memphis, Tn - The University of Memphis Tiger baseball team (10-21, 4-5), defeated the Blazers of UAB (15-16, 2-6)on Friday night, 10-7 despite a rain-delay which occurred in the third inning of play. The Tigers received a season-high 13 team-hits and also capitolized on four UAB errors to improve to 4-5 on the season in Conference USA play.

Junior pitcher Jason Wiedmeyer (3-3) looked strong throughout his outing and earned his third win of the year. Wiedmeyer went seven full and allowed five runs on nine hits, while fanning ten.

Memphis cruised out to an early 6-1 lead after two innings of play, scoring the last four runs on three errors by the UAB infield. The Tiger lead was increased in the third when sophomore Paul Reuer singled to left-center scoring junior first baseman Jonathan Leicester and the score was 7-1 in the bottom of the inning.

With two outs in the third however, play was halted because of severe weather and would not resume until approximately one hour and fourty-seven minutes later.

After the rain-delay, the Blazers would ignite in the top of the sixth, getting a two-run homer to narrow the gap, 8-4. Memphis wound up with two more runs, scoring one in the seventh and one in the eighth, to go up 10-6. The winning run was scored when senior left-fielder Nate Sams stroked a double off the left-field wall scoring junior shortstop Gabe Interiano and the Tigers led going into the ninth.

The relievers for Memphis did an admirable job, combining to allow only two runs and one walk, in the win. Junior pitcher Layne Dawson went for one inning, and allowed only one hit and struck out two. Senior closer Sean Carlson went an inning as well, giving up one unearned run and one hit while walking a batter and striking out two, including the final batter to end the game.

As a unit, the Tiger pitchers allowed only two walks throughout the entire game.

Sams was a bright spot at the plate for Memphis, going 3-for-5 with a double and two singles while chalking up three RBI. Reuer was equally impressive, going 3-for-5 with three singles and two runs scored while snagging a stolen base and getting an RBI, in the win.

The loss went to Andre Parks (1-4) of UAB, who went two-and-two-thirds innings before giving up seven runs (three earned) on seven hits while walking one and fanning four.

The Blazers did have three home runs in a losing effort, including a double-effort from Dan DeMent who jacked two, in the loss.

These two teams hook up again tomorrow to play the second game of a three-game series. The first pitch is slated for 3 p.m. at Nat Buring Stadium. The final game will take place on Sunday April 9th, at 1 p.m.