Big inning lifts Memphis

By Al Myatt
©2015 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.

GREENVILLE — The speed of Memphis center fielder Darien Tubbs was a difference maker in an American Athletic Conference series at East Carolina.

Tubbs tracked down a drive by Garrett Brooks for what ECU coach Cliff Godwin called a SportsCenter Top 10 play to keep the tying run from scoring in the bottom of the ninth in a 3-2 Tigers win on Saturday.

On Sunday, Tubbs had a three-run inside the park homer in the seventh inning as Memphis took its second win over the Pirates, 4-2.

"In a close game, there's often a big play," Godwin said. "It can go our way or go the other way. We've got to work at it."

ECU helped set the stage for Tubbs' sprint around the bases at Clark-LeClair Stadium with an error, a hit batter and a wild pitch in the top of the seventh.

None of the Tigers' runs were earned.

David Lucroy (2-1) started and went six and one-third innings for ECU (17-12, 1-2 AAC). He allowed four hits and three runs while walking two and striking out nine.

Pirate relievers Reid Love and Joe Ingle each recorded two strikeouts.

Love walked with one out in the bottom of the first and went to third on a single to right by Travis Watkins. Love came home on a throwing error as Watkins stole second for a 1-0 ECU lead.

Kirk Morgan walked, went to third on a single to right by Charlie Yorgen and scored to put the Pirates ahead 2-0 in the fifth on a sacrifice bunt by Hunter Allen.

Nolan Blackwood picked up his ninth save for Memphis (17-6, 2-1), stranding two ECU runners in the bottom of the ninth.

"We've got to come back tomorrow ready to get better," Godwin said.

The Pirates host AAC foe Tulane (18-10, 1-2) for a three-game series starting Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

PAGE UPDATED 03/30/15 11:52 PM.

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