Ian Sparks

Sports journalist for The Daily Memphian. Opinions are my own.

[John Martin @JohnMartin929]

There's an emergency inside the University of Memphis athletic department.

Tiger basketball is dying.

https://t.co/F2BjPHZPdv

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Madris swings and misses. Memphis leaves the tying and winning runs on base and drops a heartbreaker in game 1, 4-3. Rochester takes the lead in the series, pushing the Redbirds to the brink of elimination.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Crooks takes second base without a throw. Winning run on second.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Mendoza's fly ball to right is caught but moves Ledbetter to third. Tying run 90 feet away with two outs for Madris.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Crooks singles on the first pitch he sees and drives in a run! The Redbirds' backstop smokes one to left-center and drives in Paige. 4-3 with runners on first and second, still one out.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Ledbetter reaches base for the first time today with a one-out walk. Two on, one out for Memphis. Jimmy Crooks up, he's 2-3 with a single and a homer. Big spot here in the ballgame.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Three-pitch strikeout of Moore brings up Ledbetter with one on and one out.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Leadoff single by Paige! Redbirds have the tying run at the plate again in the form of Brody Moore.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Nicholas back out to try and get the four-out save. Redbirds have 8-9-1 due up with Paige, Moore and Ledbetter.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Svanson gets a strikeout of Lipscomb with a devastating sweeper. Redbirds have three outs left and need two.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Svanson takes it himself to first. Romero to second with two outs.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Svanson strikes out Peguero to get the first out.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Leadoff walk issued to Romero Jr. and that will bring an end to Santana's night. Matt Svanson will take over with a runner on first and nobody out.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Sandro Santana back out for the ninth trying to keep it a two-run game.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Mendlinger strikes out swinging, leaving the bases loaded. Going to the ninth, Redbirds trailing 4-2.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Levenson draws a 3-2 walk and the bases are loaded for Mendlinger. Red Wings will make yet another pitching change. Right-hander Kyle Nicholas enters in a tight spot.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Davis watches strike three and decides to use a challenge. Call is upheld and the Redbirds are down to their final four outs.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Madris couldn't quite check his swing and goes down swinging. One gone in the eighth for Memphis.

[Ian Sparks @ICSparksJour]

Now a walk to Mendoza. First and second with nobody out in the eighth for Memphis.