CINCINNATI, Ohio – Memphis scored seven runs in the third inning and Alex Hicks tossed a career-high 7 2/3 innings to lead Memphis to a 7-5 win over Cincinnati to open American Athletic Conference play Friday at Marge Schott Stadium. The Tigers (17-8, 1-0 AAC) will go for their first series win over the Bearcats (12-13, 0-1 AAC) since 2004 Saturday at 3 p.m. (CT).
Hicks allowed an unearned run in the first inning and two runs in the third but then allowed just one base runner from the fourth through the seventh innings. The sophomore got into a little trouble in the eighth but ended up with his fourth win of the season after his career-long outing.