April 8, 2000

Box Score

Memphis, Tn. - The University of Memphis Tiger baseball team (11-21, 5-5) rolled over the Blazers of UAB (15-17, 2-1) Saturday afternoon, by a score of 6-1. The Tigers got a solid all-around effort today and have now taken the first two games of this three-game conference series. This win puts Memphis at 5-5 in C-USA play and they are now in the hunt for a trip to the conference tournament, which will take place in Tampa, Florida in May and will be hosted by the Bulls of South Florida.

Senior pitcher/designated hitter Henry "Butch" Castor (4-3) was solid on the mound, going five-and-one-third of an inning and giving up only one run on two hits while striking out three, in his fourth win of the season.

Memphis would get started early, when senior pitcher Henry Castor flew out to center and scored sophomore center-fielder Paul Reuer, making it a 1-0 ballgame after the first. UAB would eventually get a run in the second to tie the game at 1-1. The Blazers all of a sudden, were threatening to take the lead in the fourth with one out and a runner on third but Reuer would make a fantastic play in center, snagging a fly out and then gunning down the runner at the plate on a laser-like throw. That would help the Tigers would fend of UAB in the fourth as they would then enter the fifth still tied, at 1-1. The tie would be broken in the bottom of the fifth when Reuer smashed a triple (first of year) down the right field line, scoring junior first baseman Jonathan Leicester and giving Memphis a 2-1 lead. In that same inning a questionable call came when it appeared that junior shortstop Gabe Interiano was hit by a pitch but the home plate umpire ruled otherwise. That however would actually benefit the Tigers, as Interiano would then single through the right side, driving in Reuer from third to give Memphis a 3-1 lead. Castor would then single through the middle of the infield allowing sophomore second baseman Daniel Uggla to score and the Tigers took a 4-1 lead into the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Memphis would successfully execute a hit-and-run (first of year) when senior catcher Craig Hopkins (Houston H.S.) singled through the right side of the infield scoring senior right-fielder Wes Crane from second and the lead was increased 5-1. The Tigers would get another run before closing this one out and grabbing their 11th win of the year.

Reuer was everywhere, going 1-for-3 with a triple and also scored two runs and drew a walk while getting two RBI, as well. Leicester was hot, as he went 2-for-4 with two singles and also scored a run. Crane was wasn't far behind, going 1-for-3 with a single and a run scored while drawing a walk, in the win.

Junior pitcher Jarod Wilson snagged his second save of the year, as he came on to relieve Castor in the sixth. By the end of this contest Wilson would not allow a single run and gave up only three hits while fanning one.

The loss went to Clay Bush (1-2) of UAB, who went for four-and-a-third, giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits while walking four, in his second loss of the year.

Coach Jeff Hopkins after the game said, "This game was a mixture of key hitting and key pitching. We got both and lot's of it today."

These two teams will play the final game of a three-game C-USA series, tomorrrow at 1 p.m. at Nat Buring Stadium. Memphis will be looking to complete their first conference series sweep of the year.