Nineteen days ago the Memphis Tigers baseball club took theUT-Martin Skyhawks to the woodshed with a 24-1 beating. Last night,the Tigers were on the wrong end of the whipping, losing to theArkansas State Indians 14-1 at Nat Buring Stadium.
Memphis (12-28) appeared to be unprepared for the Indiansoffensive attacks and defensive intensity.
"We weren't ready," Tiger centerfielder Kevin House said. "Wecame out flat as you can see on the scoreboard."
ASU got the scoring started in the first inning off Tigerstarter Bill Edwards. After getting the first two Indians out,Edwards gave up a single to Matt Rogelstad.
Two batters later, Indian Dusty Sexton drove in Rogelstad with asingle.
Edwards started to have control problems after the first runcrossed the plate. Indian Zach Shipley, who walked earlier in theinning, scored on a wild pitch from right hand sophomore.
Edwards got out of the first inning trailing by two runs.
In the top of the second, Edwards' control issues continued ashe hit one ASU batter. Tiger skipper Dave Anderson brought insophomore Michael Novarese to stop the bleeding with two Indians onbase.
Sexton returned to the plate this time to cream a three runhomer to bust the game wide open.
Memphis trailed 7-0 when the second inning was completed.
The Indians (19-20) added five more runs in the fourth and fifthinnings to extend the lead to 12-1. The Tigers scored their onlyrun in the bottom of the fourth.
Tiger first baseman Kyle Sledd drove in third baseman Bill Mosswho led off the inning with a double.
ASU scored a run in both the eighth and ninth innings to closeout the scoring for the night.
The Indians had 16 hits off Tiger pitching and committed onlyone error.
Memphis fielders committed three errors and only acquired sevenhits off ASU pitching.
Indian starter Jody Petty had solid plate management for seveninnings with his controlled pitching.
"He threw slow, and he threw all his pitches for strikes," Tigershortstop Brent Dlugach said. "When you control the count like hedid -- you can threw were you want."
House said the pace of the pitches thrown by the 5 foot 10 inchPetty kept him off balance all evening.
"We play at an upper level -- you don't see many slow pitchers,"House said. "It's hard to set back and wait for a pitch."
The Tigers won't have to wait long to redeem themselves. Memphistravels to Oxford, Miss., to play the Ole Miss Rebels atOxford-University Stadium tonight at 6:30 p.m.
The Rebels defeated the fore mentioned Skyhawks 7-0 yesterday toimprove their record to 25 wins with 16 loses.
House said the trip to Swayze Field will be a welcome sight tohim and his teammates after a sound defeat.
"We have to put this game behind us," House said. "Tomorrow is anew day. We get to play on a different field and in a differentatmosphere."
Dlugach said the Tigers will be ready to battle a familarfoe.
"We will be fired up because they are one of our biggestrivals," Dlugach said. "It should be a close game, and hopefullywe'll pull it out.
