TAMPA, Fla. – For the second straight series opener, the Memphis Tigers (14-14, 2-5) rode dominant pitching and a big offensive inning in route to a win. Thursday night in Tampa, RHP Landon Gartman (W, 5-0) allowed just two runs over seven innings, while Memphis used a seven-run fifth frame in an 8-2 win over the South Florida Bulls (19-15, 1-6).
Memphis: 8, South Florida: 2
WP: Landon Gartman (5-0)
LP: Orion Kerkering (4-4)
SV: N/A
How it happened:
- After both pitchers worked a 1-2-3 first frame, 2B Austin Baskin gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the second inning
- Gartman stranded two runners in scoring position in the second frame and another in the third, which kept Memphis in front 1-0 after three innings
- The Tigers sent 10 men to the plate against Kerkering in the fifth, as seven eventually scored in the inning
- In the frame, the first three Tigers reached base and eventually scored, while Baskin had a two-run double and 1B Chris Swanberg's two-run home run made it 8-0 Memphis
- South Florida chipped away at the deficit with a run in the fifth and another in the sixth, but Gartman limited the damage in both frames, as Memphis led 8-2 after six innings
- After seven frames from Gartman, Memphis turned to LHP Daniel Casto, who retired the side in order on seven pitches in the eighth and then struck out two in a perfect ninth that secured the 8-2 Memphis victory
Notables:
- With a HBP in the seventh inning, DH Jacob Compton extended his on-base streak to 24 games
- 3B Logan Kohler picked up two hits for his team-leading 11th multi-hit game of the season
- Swanberg's two-run home run gave him his sixth multi-RBI game of the season, tied for the most on the team
- Gartman recorded his fifth quality start in his last six starts with his seven-inning, two-run performance
Up Next:
- The Tigers will look to secure their first conference series win of the season, with first pitch against the Bulls Friday set for 11 a.