April 6, 2008

Box Score

Memphis, Tenn. -

Rice (23-10, 7-2 C-USA)     000 002 113 - 7 10 1
Memphis (11-19, 3-6 C-USA)  101 020 200 - 6 11 0

No. 12 Rice 7, Memphis 6

Memphis took a 6-4 lead into the ninth inning, but No. 12 Rice rallied with three runs in the last frame to sweep the Tigers in a 7-6 decision on Sunday afternoon at Nat Buring Stadium. The one run setback was Memphis' ninth of the year, as well as the team's ninth consecutive loss.

The Tigers seemed to have the contest in hand for the majority of the game until the Rice rally came in the ninth. Leftfielder Aaron Luna, who had already homered in the seventh, led-off the ninth with his second blast in as many at-bats, making it a one-run game. After inducing a fly out to rightfield, Tiger closer Matt Yokley fell victim to misfortune when Jess Buenger was awarded a free pass to first. Diego Seastrunk then drove a game tying double to right centerfield and later came around to score the game winner on a wild pitch.

The Tigers got things going early on in the contest behind the bat of freshman Chad Zurcher. Zurcher belted one of his three doubles in the first inning scoring K.K. Chalmers all the way from first to give Memphis a 1-0 lead. Zurcher struck again in the third, this time lining an RBI double down the rightfield line to score catcher Chris Kirkland. In a career day for the freshman, Zurcher went 4-for-5 driving with five RBI. His three doubles was one shy of the program record of four set by Jeff Cottam in 1990. He extended his hit streak to 19 games.

Memphis went on top 4-0 in the fifth after Kirkland led off the frame with a single to right center. Kirkland finished the day 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Senior Chalmers then doubled over the head of Rice outfielder Chad Mozingo to put runners on second and third for Brett Bowen. Bowen came through with an RBI single through the left side to plate both Chalmers and Kirkland.

While Zurcher powered the Memphis offense, his South-Doyle High School teammate Ryan Holland cruised through the Owls' lineup for five innings of shutout ball. The southpaw held Rice to just two hits and struck out two before handing the ball over to fellow freshman Marcus Barnes.

Barnes retired the first two batters he faced but then ran into trouble, walking Buenger and giving up consecutive hits to Seastrunk and J.P. Padron. Padron's RBI single got the Owls on the board. Barnes then walked Mozingo to load the bases and then issued Jimmy Comerota a run-scoring walk. At that point, Head Coach Daron Schoenrock called on Yokley. The righthander did not disappoint, striking out Jared Gayhart to end the inning.

Leading 4-3 in the home half of the seventh, the Tigers answered the Owls with two runs of their own. Kirkland drew a one out walk and Chalmers and Zurcher each followed with RBI doubles to push the lead to 6-3. Chalmers finished the day 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three runs scored.

Yokley was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs on six hits in three innings of work. He struck out four. Marc Ashley saw his first action since a March 8 appearance at Georgia. The Collierville High product struck out one in a third of an inning of relief.

Rice's Cole St. Clair picked up the win after allowing two runs in three innings of relief work.

The Tigers return to action on Tuesday, April 8 when they host Ron Polk and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at AutoZone Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.