Memphis slaughters Southern Miss, 14-3, in eight

Tigers blow game open with nine-run seventh

Trailing 3-2 through six, No. 5 Memphis erupted for nine runs in the seventh inning and went on to add three more in the eighth en route to a 14-3, eight inning run-ruling of No. 4 Southern Miss in the opening game of the CUSA Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at Trustmark Park in Pearl, MS.

The Tigers (30-26), who have won six straight and 12 of their last 14, jumped ahead 2-0 in the third when Jacob Wilson delivered a two-run homer to left with two down.

Southern Miss (30-25) sliced its deficit in half with some two-out damage in the bottom of the frame when Blake Brown singled to score Michael Sterling.

In the fifth, Brown knotted the game via a one-out double down the right field line and the Golden Eagles took a 3-2 lead when Bradley Roney managed a two-out single to right off Memphis starter Sam Moll.

After pushing across just two runs on four hits in six innings against Golden Eagles’ starter Andrew Pierce, the Tigers received a leadoff double from Eli Hynes. Pierce was lifted from the game in favor of Cody Livingston after he proceeded to plunk Derrick Thomas.

Livingston lasted just two batters, as he hit T.J. Rich and walked pinch-hitter Tucker Tubbs to tie the game.

From that point, Memphis plated eight more runs on seven hits. All but one of those hits came against reliever James McMahon. Five Tigers—Keaton Aldridge, Ethan Gross, Adam McClain, Eli Hynes, and T.J. Rich—had run-scoring singles.

The Tigers tacked on three with two outs in the eighth. Following consecutive singles by Jacob Wilson and Adam McClain, McMahon hit Eli Hynes to load the bases. Thomas promptly doubled down the left field line to clear them and make it 14-3 Memphis.

Memphis had just two more hits (15-13) than Southern Miss, but the Tigers stranded only four as opposed to 13 for the Golden Eagles.

Adam McClain, who went 3-for-5, was one of five Tigers with multi-hit games.

Southern Miss was led by Ashley Graeter’s 3-for-4 effort.

Sam Moll, who allowed three runs—all earned—on nine hits in six innings, evened his record at 5-5 with the victory.

Andrew Pierce, who allowed four runs on five hits in six innings, suffered the loss and drops to 7-4 for the Golden Eagles.

Memphis and Southern Miss will continue pod play on Thursday. The Golden Eagles play No. 8 Houston at 4 p.m. (EST) while the Tigers will take on top-seeded Rice in the nightcap at approximately 8 p.m. (EST) at Trustmark Park.

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