May 16, 2003

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla.-- - South Florida secured its place in next week's C-USA tournament, using a five-run fifth inning to defeat the Memphis Tigers, 9-5, Friday night at Red McEwen Field.

Memphis jumped on USF starter David Austen quickly in the first as Chad House, Michael Lewis and Bill Moss each connected for singles. Moss' single down the third base line scored House, who singled and advanced to third on Lewis' single.

USF responded with three consecutive hits of its own in the home half of the frame to knot the score at one. Centerfielder Mike Cunningham led off with a line drive to leftfield, but Tiger leftfielder, Jordan Hart was unable to battle the sun as the ball sailed over his head allowing Cunningham to race around to third. Third baseman Jeff Baisley then singled to rightfield to plate Cunningham. Shortstop Myron Leslie then singled through the left side. Catcher Devin Ivany sacrificed Baisley to third and Leslie to second, but Brandon Rowan then struck out Travis Brown and Kris Howell to end the inning.

Memphis regained the lead as Lewis led off the third inning with a double to the right centerfield gap. Moss flied out to centerfield to move Lewis over to third and catcher Kurt Welch brought him in on a groundball to shortstop for a 2-1 lead.

The lead did not last long however, as Baisley reached base on a fielding error by Moss at third and moved to second on a wild pitch. Leslie then lined a single over Brent Dlugach's head and into left centerfield to score Baisley and tie the game at two. Leslie took second on the throw to the plate from leftfielder Jordan Hart. Moss cut the throw, but his flip to Lewis at second sailed wide and into rightfield, allowing Leslie to move to third. Ivany plated Leslie, a batter later on a ground out to Dlugach at shortstop to tie the contest.

Memphis again answered in the top of the fifth scoring three runs without the ball leaving the infield.

USF took the lead for good in the home half of the fifth as Baisley and Leslie combined for back-to-back hits. Ivany then doubled to the left centerfield gap to plate both to tie the game at 5-5. Travis Brown doubled to score Ivany for a 6-5 lead. Brown scored on a single by Allen Shirley and Smith got an RBI on a fielder's choice for an 8-5 advantage.

USF plated one more run in the sixth for the final 9-5 count.

Bulls starter David Austen recorded his 10th win of the season striking out 10 in 7.0 innings of work. Corey Kines took the loss after giving up three runs in the fifth in relief of Rowan, who went 4.0 innings and struck out six.

Memphis and USF will play the series finale Saturday at 1 p.m. EST. The Tigers must win to stay in postseason contention.

The Memphis-South Florida series can be heard locally on 91.7 FM with Bob McCarter handling the play-by-play duties.