The hot bats from the Memphis Tigers (8-3) scored nearly every inning to take the series finale 23-8 over Western Illinois (0-9) on Sunday (March 1) at FedEx Park.
Each side matched one another again with a run in the first frame. Diego Munoz singled into right and put Western up 2-1 in the second, but a bases clearing two-out double led to a six-run rally and Memphis led 6-2.
The Leatherneck slowly began to chip away the deficit with back-to-back three runs innings in the sixth and seventh.
Making his first start, Chase VanDerGinst reached on an infield single, and Toby Allred singled to left to put together the first set of three. Alex Dorethy collected the next three and smashed a three-run home run with two outs to make it 14-8.
Despite the offense push, Memphis stayed hotted at the plate and combined for 11 runs in the two middle frames.
Western Illinois heads to Mizzou for a three-game weekend series (March 6-8), which will serve as the home opener for the SEC Tigers.
Notes–Chase VanDerGinst, Johnny Beck, and Max Slavens all made their first collegiate starts. VanDerGinst collected his first collegiate hit in the second. –Trenton Bauer finished the weekend series batting. 500 (6-12) and three RBI. -The Leathernecks fall to 8-24-1 in the all-time series.
***Report Courtesy of Western Illinois University***
