Memphis battered Blazer starter Jim Crew for six runs on six hits and three walks (plus three wild pitches and three errors) over 3 1/3 inning to take control of the win-or-go-home game early this afternoon. Yesterday, eight of the Tigers' eleven hits came with two outs, and they were only able to plate two runs against Southern Miss. Today, the hits have come in bunches -- both three-run innings resulted from three hits, while several UAB errors helped the innings progress but did not affect the scoring.

On the mound, Scott McGregor has been in control from the first pitch. He hit designated hitter Phillip Bell to lead off the second inning, but to this point has not allowed any additional runners. Four Blazers have struck out against the Tiger starter, who entered the game with a 6-3 record and 5.67 ERA.

Two interesting plays in what should have been an uneventful bottom of the fourth. First, Levi Patmon laced a ball that could have decapitated the pitcher, but McGregor gloved the ball for the first out. Meanwhile in the on-deck circle, Danny Sawyer lost the grip on his bat and sent it into the stands behind the third base dugout. Not as dramatic as Brad Emaus' 115-foot bat toss in the first game, but pretty impressive.

Ryne Lovdahl breaks up the no-no in the fifth, and the Blazers have the first two runners on in the bottom of the 5th, still trailing Memphis 6-0.