MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Jeff
Fuller collected a career-high three hits Saturday but it wasn't enough to help
the ULM (5-5) attack as Memphis (7-3) claimed a 3-1 victory at FedExPark.
ULM starter Cale Wine (2-1) took the hard luck loss after
surrendering two unearned runs on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts in
six innings. It was the third
consecutive quality start of the season for the right-hander and his ERA now
rests at 0.42 in 21.2 IP. Through three
starts, Wine has struck out 16 batters and walked just one batter.
Erik Schoenrock (1-0) also earned a quality start as he
allowed one run on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in seven
innings of work. Jonathon Van Eaton
earned his second save in as many days and fourth of the season after recording
the final two outs of the contest.
Memphis plated the first runs of the game with a pair of
unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning. Zach Willis led off with a double down the
right field line and was able to score from second after a throwing error by
Judd Edwards. Edwards error allowed Nate
Rupiper to reach first base and move all the way to third.
With one out in the first inning, Chris Dudley dropped a
foul ball allowing Tucker Tubbs to continue his at-bat. Tubbs singled to right field allowing Nate
Rupiper to score the second unearned run of the inning.
In the top of the third inning, Fuller picked up ULM's
first hit of the contest with a two-out single to short. The Warhawks were unable to cut into the
deficit as Dudley flied out to right to end the ULM third.
With one out in the third, Memphis recorded back-to-back
hits to put two runners in scoring position.
After a Tucker Tubbs strikeout, Wine pitched very carefully to Keaton
Aldridge and Aldridge walked to load the bases.
Drew Griffin, on the first pitch he saw, reached on a fielder's choice
as Edwards stepped on third base for the final out of the inning.
Memphis again put two runners in scoring position in the
home half of the fourth but Taylor Abdalla held on to the ball as his crashing
slide into the fence in foul ground was the third out of the inning.
The Warhawks finally broke through in the top of the
seventh inning. Justin Stawychny led off
the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kodie
Tidwell. Fiasco put runners on the
corners with a single to right.
Fuller drove in the first run of the game for the
Warhawks with a single to right field as Stawychny scored to trim the deficit
to one run (2-1). ULM was unable to do
any more damage as Dudley grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the seventh.
Shelby Aulds replaced Wine on the mound to start the
bottom of the seventh. With one out,
Memphis used back-to-back hits to put two runners in scoring position. Tucker Tubbs gave the Tigers a 3-1 lead with
a sacrifice fly to right field as Abdalla's throw to home was on line but
Rupiper was able to beat the tag and score.
Rupiper's second run of the game set the final tally at 3-1.
Fuller led the Warhawks with three hits and one RBI,
while the Tigers were paced by Nate Rupiper's two hits and two runs.
The finale of the ULM/Memphis series will take place
tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m and the contest can be heard live
on 540 AM.
