University of Houston
Memphis
10-Run Seventh Inning Dooms Baseball at Memphis
5/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 12, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis exploded for 10 runs in the seventh inning on the way to a 16-10 victory over the University of Houston baseball team Saturday during the middle game of a Conference USA series Saturday afternoon at Nat Buring Stadium.
The Cougars seized a 10-6 lead in the top of the seventh inning, scoring two runs on a balk and Zak Presley's sacrifice fly to score Bryan Tully, and appeared to have the game's momentum in their favor. But the Tigers sent 15 men to the plate who scored 10 runs off nine hits off three different UH pitchers.
Adam Amar and K.K. Chalmers each rapped out two-run doubles in the frame, while Michael Murray, Ben Grisham, Ben Irvin and Chalmers tallied RBI-singles to lead the offensive onslaught. The Tigers also took advantage of Bill Moss' sacrifice fly and an RBI-double from Chris Kirkland. Memphis became the first team to score 10 or more runs in an inning against the Cougars since surrendering 12 runs in the fourth inning against Southern Miss on May 15, 2003.
Amar finished the day 4-for-6 with a double, two runs and two RBIs, while Grisham batted 4-for-6 with four runs and two RBIs. Chalmers batted 3-for-5 with two runs, a double and three RBIs, while outfielder Josh Irvin batted 2-for-3 with a home run, three runs and three RBIs. Catcher Chris Kirkland batted 2-for-4 with a double, run and three RBIs.
Despite the Memphis outburst, the Cougar offense pounded out 10 runs off 13 hits in the game and scored at least one run in six of the first seven innings. Junior infielder Ryan Lormand went 2-for-5 with a stolen base, RBI and four runs scored, while sophomore DH Felix Fanaselle batted 3-for-4 with a pair of runs. Senior first baseman Josh Stirneman batted 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, while junior outfielder Bryan Tully went 3-for-5 with two runs, a double and RBI in the losing effort.
Memphis reliever Dusty Davis collected the win and improved to 7-2 despite giving up four runs off seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
UH reliever John Touchton picked up the loss and fell to 4-6 after allowing five runs off three hits and two walks in one inning.
With the loss, the Cougars dropped to 26-23 overall, 11-9 in C-USA games, while Memphis improved to 32-19 overall, 12-8 in C-USA games.
The Cougars will play the rubber match of the series at noon, Sunday, at Nat Buring Stadium. Fans should note that the starting time for Sunday's game was recently moved up to accommodate the Cougars' travel plans. Fans can hear Cougar Baseball games live on UHCougars.com with former Cougar letterwinners Nick Torina and Pat Cauley calling all the action. Fans can follow live stats by clicking on the "Gametracker" link on the front page of UHCougars.com or on the Schedule and Results page off the Baseball main page.
For the second straight game, the Cougars scored in the first inning. Lormand led off with a single to center field and stole second to move into scoring position. After advancing to third on Fanaselle's infield single, Lormand gave the Cougars a 1-0 advantage when Jimmy Cesario reached on a fielder's choice.
The Cougars added another run in the second inning without the benefit of a hit. Tully reached on an infield error and moved up a base after a groundout. The Houston native then took third base after a wild pitch and scored easily when the throw down sailed into left field.
In the second inning, the Tigers knotted the game at 2-2 on Kirkland's two-run single through the left side.
The Cougars regained the lead in the third inning. Lormand was hit by a pitch to lead off and moved up a base following Fanaselle's single to left field. After Cesario's sacrifice bunt and an intentional pass to Dustin Kingsbury loaded the bases, Josh Stirneman grounded out to second base, allowing Lormand to score from third base.
Again, the Tigers answered in the bottom of the frame, tying the game at 3-3 on Grisham's infield RBI-single.
The Tigers claimed their first lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Bill Moss' sacrifice fly to center field plated K.K. Chalmers who reached on a one-out walk and moved all the way to third after a Cougar infield miscue.
The Cougars answered in the top of the fifth with three more runs to regain the lead. Lormand tied the game at 4-4, blasting the first pitch he saw to lead off inning over the left-field wall. The rally continued as Fanaselle smashed a single up the middle and then moved into scoring position after Kingsbury drew a walk. With both runners moving, Stirneman slapped an RBI-single into left field. Two batters later, Tully lifted a high fly ball to left field that was carried by the wind and fell in for an RBI-double.
Memphis knotted the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the inning on Irvin's two-run, two-out homer to right field.
Again, the Cougars rallied with a pair of runs of their own in the next half inning. Lormand reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second after a walk to Fanaselle before scoring on Cesario's RBI-single through the right side. Kingsbury followed with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Fanaselle for an 8-6 UH lead.
The Cougars pushed two more runs across in the seventh inning. Flores led off with a double off the wall in left field and moved to third following Tully's single to left field. Both runners moved up after a balk by Davis. After Tully stole third base, Zak Presley then lifted a sacrifice fly into right field to score the runner for a 10-6 Cougar lead.
That set the stage for the Tigers' seventh-inning eruption.
