May 17, 2003

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla.-- - The Memphis defense committed six errors in the contest and USF scored seven unearned runs in the bottom off the fourth as the Bulls claimed the series win with a 10-3 decision in the season finale for both teams Saturday afternoon at Red McEwen Field. Memphis ends the 2003 campaign with a 21-33 mark overall and an 11-18 C-USA record.

For the third consecutive game the Tigers took an early lead on a second-inning towering home run by first baseman Kyle Scott.

Another towering round-tripper by second baseman Michael Lewis gave Memphis a 2-0 lead in the top of the third.

The Bulls took advantage of two Tiger errors in the home half of the third inning to knot the score at two. Second baseman Mike Choquette led off with a single up the middle and continued on to second when rightfielder Josh Payne bobbled the ball in exchange from glove to hand. Bull leadoff hitter Mike Cunningham the sacrifice bunted Choquette to third. However, on the play catcher Kurt Welch's throw to Scott at first was high, allowing Choquette to score, while Cunningham raced around to third. Cunningham then scored on a double to center by Jeff Baisley.

Memphis looked to regain the lead in the fourth after Ryan Martin reached on an infield single and was able to move to second on a throwing error by USF third baseman Jeff Baisley. Kyle Scott lined a two-out single top right, but rightfielder Scott Rachlin threw Martin out at the plate to end the inning.

Two more Memphis miscues in the fourth were taken advantage of by USF to score seven unearned runs and take a 9-2 lead. Rachlin reached first after being hit by a Stephen Gostkowski pitch. The Tiger fielding woes then began as Allen Shirley grounded to Bill Moss at third. Moss' throw for the force at second sailed wide left of Lewis allowing Rachlin to move to third. Shirley then stole second and scored along with Rachlin scored when Choquette grounded to Moss, who again threw wide of Scott at first. Choquette moved to second on the play. After Cunningham drew a walk, Baisley singled to score Choquette. Cunningham came in on Myron Leslie's sacrifice fly to leftfield to make the score 6-2. Travis Brown's double to centerfield plated Baisley and Ivany and Rachlin followed with a single to bring Brown home for a 9-2 advantage.

Kurt Welch closed the gap to 9-3 by leading the sixth inning off with a solo blast to left.

USF added a run in the seventh to increase the lead to 10-3 on an RBI triple by Cunningham.

Freshman starter Stephen Gostkowski (4-5) took the loss for the Tigers, in a valiant effort, giving up eight runs, all unearned, in 3.2 innings of work. The C-USA Freshman of the Year Nominee allowed six hits and struck out one Bull batter.

USF starter, Chris Delaney (3-2) earned the win, giving up two runs on seven hits and four strikeouts in 5.0 innings.