May 3, 2012

Modern Day Box Score 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Today marks the 25th anniversary of Mark Bowlan's perfect game at Nat Buring Stadium against rival Louisville thrown on May 3, 1987.

Memphis TigerVision caught up with Bowlan this week at FedExPark to get his recollections from the game on May 3, 1987. Here's a segment of the interview from earlier this week. You can find the full interview in the postseason virtual guide released in June.

In just 84 pitches, Bowlan retired 14-of-27 batters via groundouts and struck out one batter, the next-to-last batter he faced in the game. Louisville, which pounded out 23 hits in a doubleheader on Saturday, worked a full count twice over the course of nine innings and Bowlan found himself behind in the count on three occasions.

With freshman catcher Bill Jones behind the plate, Bowlan tossed the first and only perfect game in program history and one of only nine in the NCAA to date. His perfect game is one of three nine-inning no-hitters at the U of M. Jones was 3-for-4 with two home runs in the game as Memphis defeated Louisville 13-0. Centerfielder Mike Hammett added five RBI in a 3-for-4 day at the plate where he had a double and home run.

Bowlan, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound right-hander, credits shortstop Steve Scott for saving the perfect game as Scott made a diving grab in shallow centerfield for the first out in the fourth inning. Scott was a stalwart in the game as he assisted on seven outs and fielded a ground ball behind second base for the game's final out.

Tiger baseball will welcome Mark Bowlan back to the mound on Sunday as he will throw out the first pitch before the 1:00 p.m. series finale with UAB at FedExPark.