Prior to Tuesday night's game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs (14-18) at AutoZone Park, the Memphis Tigers baseball team (12-19, 3-6 Conference USA) was 1-4 against Southeastern Conference teams and 0-4 in one-run games during their nine-game losing skid.
All that changed two nights ago as the Tigers were able to make a 10th inning rally and win the game 9-8 in walk-off fashion. The win also ended Memphis' eight-game losing streak against the Bulldogs.
The entire game was one momentum shift after another. The Bulldogs struck first scoring two runs in the second inning off of Tigers' starter Marc Ashley.
However, Memphis was able to answer in the next inning scoring one run with a bases loaded hit batsman and a two run single from sophomore Tyler Huelsing. Huelsing went on to have a 4-for-4 night at the plate.
"It was really a big at-bat for my team. Hopefully (the game) got me out of slump. I guess that's how baseball goes," Huelsing said. "One day, you don't have the game you want and, then the next day you go 4-for-4."
The 3-2 Memphis lead was short-lived as the Bulldogs pulled even in the 5th when third baseman Connor Powers hit a solo home run off the right field foul pole to even things at 3-3. But just like two innings before, the Tigers countered the Bulldogs run with a four-run sixth inning in which Memphis was able get four hits in a row.
"A game like that turns they way it did because of the way we fought," said Memphis Coach Daron Schoenrock. "I really thought the last two games - the one against Rice and (Tuesday's) game - we really played every pitch of the game. It's nice to be rewarded for that because you're not always rewarded for that in baseball."
Just when it seemed like the Tigers were going to cruise to four-run victory, the Bulldogs put together a four-run rally of their own in the seventh to knot things up again at 7-7.
"I've been in a couple of those games, but it's been a while" Huelsing said. "That game definitely had a lot of momentum changes."
The next two innings were scoreless as the relief pitching of both teams got the job done. Memphis sophomore Brennon Martin allowed only one run on one hit in three innings of relief. Unfortunately, the lone run was allowed on a solo homer by Bulldog catcher Ryan Duffy in the top of the 10th inning that gave the Bulldogs the 8-7 lead with only a half-an-inning left in the game.
"It took a lot of courage (to come back)," Huelsing said. "I know in the 10th inning, we got pretty down on the homerun. But you know, we came that far. If they can step it up and catch up with us, then we can get back at them, too."
With their backs against the wall, the Tigers sent the heart of their batting order to the plate in the bottom of the 10th. Junior second baseman Eric Farrell led things off for Memphis with a single. Senior captain K.K. Chalmers kept things going by drawing a walk putting the go-ahead run on base.
Freshman Chad Zurcher was able to advance the runners to third and second base with a sacrifice bunt moving both runners into scoring position. The next Memphis batter popped up leaving Farrell and Chalmers on base with two outs.
The game on his shoulders, junior designated hitter Cole Shelton stepped to the plate looking to at least hit one run in to tie the game and ensure another inning of play. In the bottom of the ninth, Shelton had a chance to win the game but was unable to capitalize. With a second chance to deliver for his team, Shelton stepped up in the biggest way possible.
"When I came up in the ninth inning, I didn't get the job done," Shelton said. "I was telling them all, just give me another chance and I'll get it done. I wanted to be in that situation. I love to be in that situation."
Shelton was able to hit a blooper to shallow center field that drove in Farrell and Chalmers and won the game for the Tigers. He had five runs-batted-in for the night.
"I was just thinking I had to get something done for the team," Shelton said. "We've been on a nine-game losing streak. I just wanted to do something and try to bring some life back to us."
With their longest losing streak in two years behind them, the Tigers will travel to Central Florida for a three game series against the Knights (23-11, 2-7 C-USA) beginning Friday night.
"There's really no upsets in baseball," Schoenrock said. "Sometimes when you beat a program like Mississippi State, people call it an upset. We made more pitches, we made more plays, we had better at-bats and that just happens. Some days are better than others.
"It's really important for our team to feel good about what they accomplished (Tuesday). We can talk a little about that and then move on to play UCF."
