Bryce Beeler finished 2-for-3 with 2 RBI.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Bryce Beeler had two RBI and notched his seventh save to back a solid outing by RHP Jon Reed in Memphis' 3-2 victory at No. 8 Louisville on Saturday.
Reed (4-1) pitched eight innings and allowed two runs, both on a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth inning. Reed allowed six hits, struck out six and walked two while keeping Louisville (22-8, 3-2 American) to just one runner in scoring position prior to the eighth inning.
After Louisville tied the game in the eighth, Memphis (18-13, 3-5 American) answered with a run in the ninth to take the 3-2 lead. A two-out walk to Tucker Tubbs opened the door for the Tigers and a single to center by Beeler pushed Tubbs to scoring position. Drew Griffin collected the game-winning hit, singling to left field to drive in the go-ahead run.
Beeler walked the leadoff man in the ninth, but after a sacrifice bunt, Louisville came up empty. Beeler forced a fly out to right for the second out and fielded a comebacker to the mound for the final out. With the save, Beeler notched his seventh of the season and the Tigers 12th on the year.
After stranding two runners in scoring position in the first, the Tigers were able to get on the board in the second. Tucker Tubbs was hit by a pitch to start the frame and came around to score on a double by Beeler. Beeler's double landed in deep centerfield and the Cardinals were able to throw out Beeler at third after Tubbs had scored.
Memphis was unable to expand the lead until the seventh inning. Kane Barrow sparked the tally as he led it off with a double down the leftfield line. A groundout moved Barrow over to third and Beeler brought in the run with a sacrifice fly.
The Tigers had a chance to add more in the eighth, but made the third out at the plate. Keaton Aldridge started the frame with a bunt single over the reach of the pitcher. Aldridge moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout pushed him to third. After a walk put runners on the corners, the runner at first took off for second, but Louisville got Aldridge out at the plate to end the frame.
Louisville tied the game in the eighth with a two-out, two-strike, two-run single. The Cardinals used back-to-back singles to start the frame and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out. Reed struck out the next hitter, but Louisville used the two-strike single to knot the game at 2-2.
