Baseball Pounds Out 11-6 Win

Tuesday, March 8

Memphis, Tenn.

4:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Memphis

3/8/2005 9:22:00 PM | Baseball

By: MT Media Relations

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Josh Anderson worked three innings in relief for a save and Middle Tennessee scored six times in the final three innings to take an 11-6 victory over Memphis Tuesday at Nat Buring Stadium. Anderson allowed just an unearned run in three innings, giving up three hits with one strikeout to get his first career save. Aaron Wallus (2-0) picked up the victory despite giving up two hits in 1.2 innings. The Blue Raiders (6-3) pounded out 15 hits, the club's seventh straight outing with double-digit hits, to post its fourth consecutive win over Memphis. Middle Tennessee scored five runs in the first two innings but then let the Tigers get back in the game and tie the score at five in the sixth. Middle Tennessee then answered with six runs over the final three innings and held the Tigers to just one run. Second baseman Eric McNamee ended the game with a diving play up the middle. The Blue Raiders got on the board early with three runs in the first on four hits. McNamee singled up the middle to leadoff the game and scored on Nate Jaggers' double to rightcenter two batters later. Marcus Taylor's single through the middle scored Jaggers with two outs before a slicing double to right by Michael McKenry plated Taylor for a 3-0 lead. Middle Tennessee added to the lead with two unearned runs in the second. McNamee drew a two-out walk and Jeff Beachum laid down a perfect bunt to reach. Jaggers then belted a ball deep to centerfield, backing K.K. Chalmers to the wall where the ball bounced off of Chalmers' glove, allowing both runners to score. Memphis (4-4) got on the board in the bottom of the second when Jordan Hart walked, went to second on a balk and scored on a two-out single to right by Chalmers. Blue Raider left fielder Adam Warren saved another run with a diving catch of a line drive in left center to end the inning. A leadoff single up the middle by UM's Patrick Hope led to a run in the third, with the second baseman scoring on a one-out double from Adam Amar. But Blue Raider starter Tyler Copeland was able to get out of the jam without further damage, stranding a pair of runners with a strikeout and a flyout to keep the 5-2 lead. Middle Tennessee loaded the bases in the fifth on a pair of walks and single from Warren, but Adam Darby bounced into a 1-2-3 doubleplay to end the threat with the Raiders holding onto the three-run lead. The Tigers plated an unearned run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly from Amar and had two on with one out when the Blue Raiders went to the bullpen for Wallus, who induced an inning-ending doubleplay. Memphis tied the game, though, in the sixth, thanks to some wildness from Wallus, who walked three batters and hit another to force in a run. Ryan Martin then singled to score another run and tie the contest at five, but Taylor threw out Hope trying to score from second on the play to keep the game tied. Middle Tennessee scored three times in the seventh on three hits and two outfield errors, all started by a leadoff walk from Taylor. McKenry followed with a single to center and both runners moved up when the throw back to the infield got away. Warren fought off an 0-2 pitch to rightfield for an RBI single, and McKenry scored when the throw sailed well over the catcher's head. Warren advanced all the way to third on the play and scored on pinch hitter Wayne Kendrick's single to right for an 8-5 advantage. Singles from Jaggers and Nathan Hines set the table for Taylor in the eighth. A doubleplay erased two runners, but Jaggers scored on the play for a 9-5 lead. Memphis got a run back in the bottom of the inning with a two-out RBI single to center from Chad House. The Blue Raiders added two more runs in the ninth, starting with a slicing double down the rightfield line from Kendrick. After a walk to Josh Archer, McNamee laced a ball off the third baseman and into leftfield, driving in one run, and Beachum followed with an RBI single to score pinch-runner Doug Birkofer. Tim Senter (0-2), the third of five Memphis hurlers, suffered the loss, giving up three runs on five hits in 1.2 innings. Every spot in the order had at least one hit for Middle Tennessee, with Warren collecting a career-high three hits, while Beachum, Jaggers, McKenry and Kendrick all added a pair of hits. McNamee, Jaggers and Taylor all scored twice in the win. The two teams play again Wednesday at 4 p.m. before the Blue Raiders host Jacksonville State in a three-game series beginning Friday at 3 p.m. GAME NOTES
Senior Eric McNamee's leadoff single extended his hitting streak to six games ... Senior Nate Jaggers extended his hitting streak to nine games this season and 13 overall dating to the end of 2004 ... Redshirt sophomore Josh Anderson tossed three innings, allowing an unearned run. The Rockvale, Tenn., native has tossed 8.2 innings in five appearances this season, allowing no earned runs ... Sophomore Adam Warren collected a career-high three hits in the contest ... The Blue Raiders have won four straight against the Tigers overall and six of the last eight on the road in the series.