May 12, 2007
Box Score
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -
Memphis 16, Houston 10
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Houston (26-23, 11-9) 111 032 2 00 - 10 13 1
Memphis (32-19, 12-8) 021 120 (10)0X - 16 19 3
Memphis had trouble finding the clutch hit on Friday night, but there was no shortage of two-out hitting on Senior Day as the Tigers drove in six two-out runs in the game and overcame a four-run deficit with 10 runs in seventh inning to even the Conference USA series with Houston by way of a 16-10 victory. Ben Grisham led a 19-hit offensive with a 4-for-4 day.
With its 32nd victory of the year, Memphis equals its total win production from the 2006 season, marking the second consecutive season in which a Daron Schoenrock led team has improved its record.
Trailing 10-6, Memphis erupted for its second-biggest inning of the year to take the 16-10 advantage. The Tigers sent 15 batters to the plate and banged out nine hits, four of which went for extra bases. Senior Kyle Norrid ignited the Tigers second 10-run frame of the year with a double just inside the first base bag. Grisham followed with an RBI single and the Tigers were off. Josh Irvin then drew a walk and Chris Kirkland sac bunted the runners over. However, on the play, Cougar pitcher John Touchton opted to get the force out at third. His throw was just late as Grisham slid in safely. With the bases loaded, K.K. Chalmers stepped to the plate and lined a two-run double to the right centerfield gap to pull Memphis to within one run at 10-9. The deficit would be erased two batters later when Bill Moss brought Chalmers in on a sac fly to rightfield for the first out of the inning. Houston reliever Touchton was chased from the contest in favor of Jimmy Raviele and Michael Murray quickly jumped on him with an RBI single to put Memphis on top for good, 11-10. After a single by Joey Lieberman, Adam Amar gave Memphis a 13-10 lead with a two-run double to right centerfield. Amar would score on single by Irvin. An infield single off the bat of Chalmers brought Irvin in to cap the scoring. The 10-run frame was the first time since 2003 that Houston had given up as many runs.
Dusty Davis then shut the Cougars down over the final two innings to pick up his seventh win of the year. Davis gave up four runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings in relief of Scott McGregor. The win did not come without a bit of defensive help in the eight, however, as Josh Stirneman doubled to right center. Dustin Kingsbury raced around in attempt to score, but a relay from Chalmers to Moss to Kirkland beat him to the plate and ended the Houston threat.
In a see-saw battle, Houston jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second before a two-run single by Kirkland evened the slate at 2-2.
Houston responded with a run in the third, but Memphis again answered with a run for a 3-3 score.
Memphis claimed its first lead of the series when Moss lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Chalmers. But Ryan Lormand erased the Memphis lead on the first pitch of the fifth with a home run over the leftfield wall. The homer was Lormand's second of the series. Houston went ahead 6-4 on an RBI-single by Stirneman and a run-scoring double by Bryan Tully.
In keeping with the flow of the game, Memphis evened the slate at 6-6 when Grisham began a two-out rally with a single and Irvin followed with a two-run blast over the rightfield wall. Irvin's homer was the third of his Tiger career.
Houston looked to put the game away with two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to take a 10-6.
Amar and Grisham both had four hits. Grisham scored four runs and drove in two, while Amar drove in a pair and score twice. Chalmers went 3-for-5 on the afternoon with three RBI and two run scored. Irvin and Kirkland each scored three runs.
Houston put up 13 hits and was led by Felix Fanaselle's 3-for-4 outing. Bryan Tully added a three-hit day, while Lormand and Stirneman each had two hits.
Memphis and Houston will battle in the rubber match of the series on Sunday. First pitch is set for Noon.
