April 29, 2003

Box Score

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Two Tiger errors ignited a five-run eighth-inning rally by Austin Peay (18-23-1) and the Memphis (14-30) bats left 12 men on base as APSU claimed a 9-6 victory in non-conference action Tuesday evening at Raymond C. Hand Park.

Austin Peay got on the board first, with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning. After a leadoff single by rightfielder Ron Bethke, A.J. Ellis drew a one-out walk. First baseman Chris Hyde followed with an RBI double just inside the first base line to plate Ellis. The Governors took a 3-0 advantage when Hyde scored on a two-out infield single by second baseman Matthew Ledbetter.

Bethke put APSU ahead 4-0 in the second on a solo shot to right field.

The Tigers answered with a run in the third to cut the lead to 4-1. Leftfielder Chad House singled to right and then came around to score on a triple by freshman Bill Moss.

Memphis battled to score two runs in the fourth to shave the deficit to 4-3. Back-to-back doubles by Brent Dlugach and Kyle Scott got the Tiger bats started. Scott advanced to third on a wild pitch by Governor starting pitcher Brad Daniel and scored on an infield single by rightfielder Josh Payne.

The Tigers took a 6-4 lead on a three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Moss was plunked to begin the inning and Kurt Welch was walked in the next at-bat. Scott was hit by a pitch just two batters later to load the sacks for Michael Lewis, who drilled a single to left to score Moss. Payne then tied the ballgame with a sharp RBI single to right field, plating Welch. Memphis benefited from a bases loaded balk by Austin Peay reliever Jake Lund to score Scott. The U of M threatened to expand the lead but Lund was able to pitch out of the bases loaded jam.

The Governors rallied to cross five runs in the home half of the eighth to take a 9-6 lead on four hits. Following a walk and a hit batsman, pinch hitter Jacob Schroeder laced a RBI double down the leftfield line. Ledbetter collected an RBI single. A costly Tiger error by Welch's attempt to throw Ledbetter out stealing plated Schroeder. Ledbetter then scored on a fielder choice grounder off the bat of Alfredo Burkeen for an 8-6 lead. Burkeen would then come around to score on Thomas Beech's double to leftcenter for the final 9-6 tally.

Payne went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI to lead the Memphis offense, while Moss added a 2-for-3 night.

Adam Muston picked up the win to improve to 1-2 and Jeff Mault struck out the side in the ninth to record the save for the Gov's.

Daniel de Armas (2-2) gave up three unearned runs in a losing effort. Memphis Tiger starter Corey Kines pitched 2.0 innings and allowed four runs on five hits, while walking one and fanning one in his first-ever start in a Memphis uniform. Bill Edwards came on relief to strike out six in 4.1 innings. Zach Cook gave the Tigers two-thirds of an innings in relief, including inducing an inning-ending double play to get of a seventh-inning jam.

Memphis returns to action on Fri., May 2, when they begin a three-game C-USA series with Saint Louis. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Nat Buring Stadium.