Memphis beats Charlotte in the first round of the American Conference Tournament

After losing a three-game series against the 49ers over the weekend, Memphis beat Charlotte 13-9 in a win-or-go-home game in the first round of the American Conference tournament.

The Tigers hit the ground running with five runs in the first inning on three hits and an error. After Freddy Rodriguez started the inning with a single, Javon Hernandez and Brady McAbee both walked before James Smith IV was hit by a pitch to score Rodriguez. 

In the next at-bat, Shane Cox drove in Hernandez on an RBI groundout. A few at-bats later, Trae Cassidy and Tyler Harrington hit back-to-back singles to score three more runs. 

After going scoreless in the second inning, Memphis added a pair of runs in the third and five more in the fifth inning before tacking on the final run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a Michael Gupton solo home run, his second of the day. 

Six of the nine Tigers in the lineup recorded a hit, and Rodriguez finished the game 4-for-4 with a walk, two runs and an RBI.

Walks were the big issue for Charlotte. Memphis finished with fewer hits than the 49ers, recording 11 hits for the game, but they walked eight times.

The Tigers had two or more walks in all three innings where they scored two or more runs. 

Matt Riser turned to redshirt sophomore Will Howell on the mound, and the starting pitcher allowed three earned runs on eight hits and two walks in 6.1 innings. Howell struck out four batters and picked up his sixth win of the season.

Howell allowed only five hits through the first six innings of the game, but they scored an unearned run in the second inning before adding four more runs in the top of the seventh. The starting pitcher ran into some trouble in the seventh inning and was pulled after allowing three straight hits after recording the first out.

The 49ers scored four runs on six hits and an error, and they added three more runs in the eighth inning.

Charlie Smith came in to finish the seventh inning before Caden Robinson entered for the final two innings. He allowed four runs on six hits, and he struck out four batters.

With the win, Memphis advances to the second round and will play No. 4 seed UAB tomorrow afternoon. The next three rounds are double elimination before the championship game on Sunday, so the Tigers are guaranteed two more games in Clearwater.