April 25, 2008

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

Tulane 17, Memphis 4

Tulane (28-13-1)     620 000 522 - 17 14 1
Memphis (16-26)      000 000 400 -  4  6 4

University of Memphis starter Scott McGregor struck out six and held Tulane to just two earned runs, but the Green Wave took advantage of defensive miscues early in the game to score six runs in the first and cruise to a 17-4 win in the series-opener on Friday evening at Nat Buring Stadium. Memphis falls to 16-26 overall, 4-9 in C-USA play. Tulane improves to 28-13-1, 7-5-1 in the league.

In a battle of two talented pitchers, errors hurt McGregor, while his counterpart, Shooter Hunt masterfully carved through the Tigers' lineup. The righthander, who leads the league in ERA and strikeouts, lived up to his billing, fanning 12 and limiting Memphis to just six hits en route to his seventh win of the year. He did give up four runs in the contest.

Memphis gave away six unearned scores in the first on two fielding miscues. Leadoff hitter Drew Allain grounded out to start the game and Anthony Scelfo singled to left. The errors became a factor when Brett Bowen, making his first start since being hit in the elbow versus Dallas Baptist on Saturday, made a fielding error. Rob Segedin then singled to center to load the bases. McGregor struck out Sam Honeck and looked to get out of the inning, when he induced an infield pop up. However, the Memphis defense was unable to pull the ball in, allowing Scelfo to score the game's first run. Tulane's next batter, Warren McFadden then laced a two-run single to left and Andrew Rogers then dealt the Tigers the early knock-out punch--a three-run home run to left that gave the Wave a 6-0 lead after just a half-inning of play.

Hunt struggled with his command in the home half of the first inning as he walked the first three batters he faced--K.K. Chalmers, Chad Zurcher and Tyler Huelsing--to load the bases with no outs. But he settled down to strikeout the next three batters and end Memphis's answer-back attempt.

TU scored its only two earned runs off McGregor in the second on a two-run single by Jared Dyer, and the Tiger found themselves saddled with an 8-0 deficit.

McGregor held Tulane at bay for the remainder of his outing and handed the ball over to redshirt freshman Andrew Haley in the seventh.

After the Wave got a five-run seventh that was powered by a three-run blast by Scelfo, Memphis responded with four runs in the home half. Trey Wiedman and Chris Kirkland banged back-to-back singles, and Zurcher reached on an infield hit to load the sacks for Huelsing. The Munford, Tenn., native put Memphis on the board with his first career grand slam and his second career home run. Huelsing led Memphis with two hits and all four RBI.

That would be all the offense for Memphis, as Tulane plated two in both the eighth and ninth stanzas for the 17-4 final tally.

The Tigers and Wave will battle it out in game two of the series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Nat Buring Stadium.