MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Alabama A&M (0-6, 0-0 SWAC) dropped a close 5-3 decision at Memphis (5-2, 0-0 AAC) on Tuesday, March 1 in an NCAA Division I baseball game.
Following a scoreless top of the first inning, the Tigers would register two runs as Ben Brooks grounded out to short stop with an RBI to allow Ian Biblioni to score before Taylor Howell reached on a fielding error to bring home Jacob Compton to create a 2-0 lead.
The score would stay that way until the Bulldogs would not respond in the top of the third and UM would capitalize in the home half of the inning as Compton once again reached on a fielding error to allow Daniels to score and stretch the score for a 3-0 advantage.
AAMU would get on the scoreboard in the fourth inning in fine style as sophomore catcher
Dillon Roop (New Market, Ala.) drove a ball deep over the left field fence to bring home sophomore infielder
Trevor Berkemeyer (North Las Vegas, Nev.) to cut the deficit to 3-2.
UM would respond in the bottom of the fourth as Blake Daniels doubled to right center to bring home Ian Biblioni for his second run of the day and to increase their advantage to 4-2. Following a scoreless top of the fifth, the Tigers answered in the home half, plating a run on a wild pitch to increase the lead to 5-2.
Neither team would score during the sixth but the Bulldogs would come through in the top of the seventh with junior infielder
CJ Mervilus (Brooklyn, N.Y.) reaching first base on a fielding error. Freshman third base man
Jalen Ford (Birmingham, Ala.) then came home to close the gap to 5-3. From there, defense would rule the day as neither team would score over the final two innings as Memphis wrapped up the 5-3 victory
Daniels led the Tigers with a 2-for-4 day, an RBI and a run scored while Ben Brooks was 1-of-4 with one RBI. Taylor Howell went 1-for-4 with one run scored and Bibiloni scored a pair of runs to round out the top offensive performers. Landon Gartman threw five innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out seven to move to 1-0.
Roop went two-for-four with a homerun and two RBIs and a run while Berkemeyer was 1-for-4 with a run scored. Sophomore pitcher
Khari Caver (Riverdale, Ga.) threw two scoreless innings, and struck out out one to fall to 0-2.
The Bulldogs will be back in action as they head to Alabama-Birmingham for a three game series from March 4-6. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Regions Field.
