April 11, 2007

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

Murray State 7, Memphis 6
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Murray State (9-21)   240 000 001 - 7 9 1
Memphis (19-14)       201 001 002 - 6 8 3

Reliever Will Hudgens struck out a career-high eight batters and held Murray State hitless in five innings of work, but the Tigers were unable to overcome an early 6-2 deficit as they suffered a 7-6 loss to Murray State Wednesday night at Nat Buring Stadium. The loss was just the second of the year for Memphis when playing at home.

Memphis staged a ninth-inning rally in which they plated a pair of runs to make it 7-6 on a bases loaded single by Chris Kirkland. But the rally fell just short as the Tigers ended the game with the tying run standing at third base. That runner was just one of 13 runners Memphis left on the bases, including stranding eight in scoring position.

Murray jumped out to a 6-2 lead via a two-run double by James Akin in the first inning, followed by four unearned runs on five hits in the second inning.

Memphis got on the board in the first after K.K. Chalmers led off with a double and Michale Murray reached on a bunt single. The hit was Murray's only one of the game, but extended his streak to 19 straight games. Murray swiped second base and Chalmers scored on a wild pitch. Joey Lieberman drove Murray in on a groundball out to knot the contest at 2-2.

Trailing 6-2 in the third Chalmers reached on a three-base error by the MSU outfield. He cut the deficit to 6-3 when he scored on a sac fly by Murray.

Hudgens and Neil Schenk were able to hold the Throughbreds offense at bay from the third to eighth innings, but the offense could not come up with the clutch hit. Schenk fanned a pair in an inning of relief.

An insurance run by Murray proved to be the game-winner in the ninth. Jake Donze picked up the win after tossing five innings of relief. He limited Memphis to just three runs on three hits.

Memphis will jump back in C-USA play this weekend when they travel to Birmingham to take on UAB.