May 9, 2003

Memphis, Tenn. - First baseman Kyle Scott hammered a three-run homer to break a 1-1 tie and a pair of Memphis hurlers combined on a two-hitter as the Tigers defeated Houston 4-1 in game one of their Conference-USA baseball series Friday at Nat Buring Stadium. The victory snapped a nine-game losing streak to Houston and pushed the Tigers' season-long winning streak to four games.

Memphis (18-30, 9-15 C-USA) starter Jarrett Grube took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and allowed just two hits in seven innings of work and reliever Bill Edwards held the Cougars (28-22, 16-9 C-USA) hitless in two innings of relief to pick up his second save of the season. Grube (4-5) allowed just one unearned run and struck out six to win his third-straight league start.

"This is a great win for our team," Memphis head coach Dave Anderson said. "Our pitching was outstanding tonight. Grube and Edwards were both excellent. (Brad) Sullivan pitched well for them, but we were able to get the big hits when we needed too. Kyle Scott's three-run home really gave us a lift and we were able to finish it out."

Houston starter Brad Sullivan (6-5) allowed just three hits in seven innings of work, but all three went for extra bases and two were hit out of the park. Sullivan, who was tabbed as the preseason Conference-USA Pitcher of the Year, did strike out 12 batters to become Houston's all-time leader in that category with 395.

The Tigers scored in the first as leadoff hitter Kevin House quickly extended his hitting-streak to 15 games by sending a high fastball from Sullivan deep over the centerfield wall for a 1-0. House's blast was his fourth long ball of the season and first in 42 games. Sullivan gave up a double to designated hitter Ryan Martin to lead off the second, but that would be the only hit the right-hander would surrender until Scott's home run in the sixth.

Houston manufactured its first run in the sixth after third baseman Hyung Cho reached first after being hit by a pitch. Cho moved to third when Grube tried to pick him off, but the throw skipped past Scott at first allowing Cho to advance two bases. Grube gave up his first hit of the game to the next batter as Cougar first baseman Thanos Papavasiliou hit a high-chopper in between third baseman Bill Moss and shortstop Brent Dlugach that trickled into left field allowing Cho to score.

After retiring Chad House on strikes to lead off the sixth, Sullivan then walked Moss and Dlugach to set up Scott for his game-winning home run. Scott sent a Sullivan fastball over the rightfield wall on a 1-0 pitch for his third home run of the season. Scott leads the Tigers with 18 extra-base hits and became the fourth Tiger with 20 RBIs this season.

Grube gave up a leadoff double to second baseman Cole Bruce in the seventh, but the Cougars left him stranded on third as catcher Nick Bott grounded out to second to end the inning. Edwards closed out the game by striking out the final to Houston batters. Edwards has not allowed a run in his last 9.2 innings of work.

Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 2 p.m., at Nat Buring Stadium. It's "Fan Appreciation Day" and admission to the game is only $2.