Oct. 13, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

Rookies      010 121 001 -  6  4 2
Veterans     400 323 00X - 12 12 2

Junior Robby Graham and senior Tyler Huelsing each collected three hits as the Vets introduced the Rookies to collegiate baseball with a 12-6 thumping in Memphis baseball's annual Rookies-Vets Game at FedExPark.

"It's the third day of fall team practice and it showed, based up on how rough around the edges we are," said head coach Daron Schoenrock.

Graham garnered MVP honors after going 3-for-4 with a single, double, home run and four RBI. Huelsing drove in a run and sophomore Adam McClain went 2-for-4 for the Vets. Sophomore Drew Martinez went 1-for-5 with a solo home run. The Veterans put up 12 hits in the game.

Vets starter Marc Ashley, who tossed a scoreless first inning to pick up the win, got all the support he needed in the home half of the first inning. He helped himself out with a leadoff single and Phillip Chapman followed suit. With runners on first and second, Graham came through with a two-run double. Huelsing later added a two-run triple to make it 4-0 after one inning of play.

The rookies cut into the lead with single runs in the second and fourth to make it 4-2. But the Vets stormed back to score a combined eight runs in the middle-third of the contest to grab a commanding 12-5 advantage.

Brennon Martin gave the Vets two scoreless innings of relief. The southpaw fanned four.

Chase Joiner was the losing pitcher for the Rookies, who were led offensively by freshman Derrick Thomas. Thomas was 1-for-3 with a triple and three walks in the game. On the mound, Michael Wills was effective, holding the Vets scoreless in an inning of relief.

"Both teams really helped out the opposing offenses with walks and errors," Schoenrock said. "These two parts of the game will get better with the system we will implement this fall."