April 16, 2008

Box Score

JACKSON, Tenn. -

Memphis 7, UT-Martin 3

Memphis (15-21)     203 100 010 - 7 10 1
UT-Martin (4-28)    101 010 000 - 3  9 1

Sophomore Brennon Martin was masterful on Wednesday night, striking out seven in a 91-pitch complete-game gem to lead Memphis to a 7-3 victory over UT-Martin in the Razz Classic held at Pringle Park. The win was the Tigers' 15th straight against the Skyhawks, dating back to the 2000 season-opener.

Martin scattered nine hits and allowed single runs in the first, third and fifth innings, before holding the Skyhawks to just three hits over the final three innings of play. The Tiger southpaw did not walk a batter in the contest.

Memphis's ever-improving offense gave Martin all the run support he needed in the early-goings of the game and from there never looked back. With Brett Bowen on first and two outs in the first, Cole Shelton blasted his first Division I home run over the right-centerfield wall to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

UT-Martin responded with a run of its own in the first, but the U of M countered with three runs in the third to make it 5-1. Consecutive doubles by Daniel Kaufmann and K.K. Chalmers made it 3-1, and Chalmers came around to score when Martin pitcher Shawn McElyea fielded a sac bunt by Chad Zurcher and tossed the throw to first wide. Zurcher moved to second on the error and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a sac fly by Bowen.

Again the Skyhawks plated a run in the third, but Memphis answered with one more in the fourth. Tyler Huelsing singled and stole second. He later scored on a groundball out by Chalmers for the 6-2 advantage.

Huelsing struck again in the seventh. After Robby Graham double to rightcenter and moved to third on a sac bunt by Trey Wiedman, Huelsing lined a single up the middle against a drawn-in infield, bringing home pinch runner Chris Newsom. Huelsing led Memphis with a 3-for-4 night, while Graham, Shelton and Kaufmann had two hits each.

Mark Hartsfield and Scott Gladston led the nine-hit UTM attack with two hits each.

McElyea took the loss on the mound to fall to 0-4. He gave up six runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings of work. Skyhawks pitcher struck out just one batter.

Memphis will return to Nat Buring Stadium for a non-conference weekend series against a tough Dallas Baptist squad, beginning Fri., April 18. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. Listen to "The Voice" of Tiger Baseball, Jeff Brightwell as he brings live play-by-play action on 91.7FM. The pre-game show for the contest will begin at 6:15 p.m.