TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Memphis (9-19, 2-5 American) baseball team dropped the series opener to South Florida (23-7, 4-3 American), falling 10-1 on Thursday evening at USF Baseball Stadium.
Memphis struck first in the opening inning, but South Florida used a dominant late surge to pull away and secure the win.
The Tigers managed six hits on the night, with multiple contributions throughout the lineup. Freddy Rodriguez led the way with two hits, while Shane Cox drove in Memphis’ lone run in the first inning.
On the mound, Memphis starter Seth Garner worked into the seventh inning before South Florida broke the game open with a decisive six-run frame.
South Florida finished with 11 hits and capitalized on key opportunities late, including a three-RBI double and a two-RBI triple in the seventh inning to turn a close game into a blowout.
Memphis will be back in action tomorrow night where it will look to even the series with South Florida. First pitch in Tampa is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. central time.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Memphis got on the board early in the top of the first when Shane Cox delivered an RBI single to score Freddy Rodriguez for a 1-0 lead.
- South Florida answered in the third inning with an RBI groundout to tie the game at 1-1.
- The Bulls took the lead in the fourth on a sacrifice fly, making it 2-1.
- South Florida added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to extend the lead to 4-1.
- The game broke open in the eighth inning as the Bulls erupted for six runs, highlighted by a bases-clearing double and a two-RBI triple to push the score to 10-1.
NOTABLES
- Shane Cox and Cade Hitson stole bases for the Tigers, bringing the team’s season total to 65 steals, which ranks in the top 40 nationally.
- Cox also drove in the Tigers only run in the game on an RBI single in the top of the first.
- Memphis starting pitcher Seth Garner had the stand-out performance of the day for the Tigers.
- Garner had his best outing of the season thus far, throwing seven innings, allowing seven hits and four runs while striking out three and not walking a single batter.
- 56 of Garner’s 76 total pitches were thrown for strikes, resulting in a fantastic 73.7% thrown strike rate.
- His seven innings pitched are the most in a game this season by a Memphis pitcher.
- Third baseman Freddy Rodriguez finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored.
- Now totals 28 runs scored on the season, the most of any Tiger.
- Recorded his 10th multi-hit game this season, trailing only Shane Cox (11 multi-hit games).
SCORING SUMMARY
Top 1:
Shane Cox singled, Freddy Rodriguez scored.
Memphis 1, South Florida 0
Bottom 3:
Jevin Relaford grounded out, Jacob Green scored.
Memphis 1, South Florida 1
Bottom 4:
Nathan Earley hit a sacrifice fly, Jake Kulikowski scored.
Memphis 1, South Florida 2
Bottom 6:
Bradke Lohry singled, Ryan Pruitt scored.
Memphis 1, South Florida 3
Bottom 7:
Joey Brenczewski singled, Nathan Earley scored.
Memphis 1, South Florida 4
Bottom 8:
Matt Rose doubled, Ryan Pruitt, Bradke Lohry and Lance Trippel scored.
Jacob Green tripled, Jack Lutz and Matt Rose scored.
Jevin Relaford singled, Jacob Green scored.
Memphis 1, South Florida 10
UP NEXT
Memphis will face South Florida again tomorrow in Tampa. First pitch is set for 5:35 p.m. central time.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Baseball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team’s social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
