Tigers Ride Three-Game Winning Streak into Southern Series

Friday, March 24

Memphis, Tenn.

6:30 PM

University of Memphis

Southern

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Tigers Ride Three-Game Winning Streak into Southern Series

Mar 23, 2017 | Baseball

Game Notes vs. Southern

Memphis welcomes Southern University to FedExPark

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Riding a three-game winning streak, Memphis will welcome Southern University to FedExPark for a three-game weekend series Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

GAME INFORMATION:
Memphis (13-7) vs. Southern (4-12)
Date: March 24-26, 2017
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Venue: FedExPark
Twitter Updates: @MemphisBaseball

Friday, March 24 | 6:30 p.m. CT
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: Memphis Tiger Network
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
MEM: So. RHP Alex Hicks (2-1, 3.29)
SU: Jr. RHP Daniel Franklin (0-4, 5.06)

Saturday, March 25 | 2 p.m. CT
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: Memphis Tiger Network
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
MEM: Jr. LHP Drew Crosby (3-0, 3.20 ERA)
SU: Jr. RHP Harold Myles (0-2, 9.03 ERA)

Sunday, March 26 | 1 p.m. CT
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: Memphis Tiger Network
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
MEM: Jr. RHP Connor Alexander (3-1, 4.13 ERA)
SU: TBA

Leading Off
• Memphis welcomes Southern University to FedExPark for a three-game weekend series. Memphis last played the Jaguars in 1981, sweeping a late-season double header. The Tigers went on to play in the NCAA Tournament that season.
• The Tigers have won three consecutive games coming into the weekend, including completing the season sweep of nationally-ranked Ole Miss. The sweep of the Rebels is the first since 2013.
• Memphis has won four-straight weekend series – over Illinois State, Georgia Southern, Southern Illinois and Missouri State. The Tigers won just three weekend series all of last season.
• Last week against Mississippi Valley the Tiger hitters combined for seven doubles, which ranks tied for fifth-most in a single game in Memphis history. The program record for doubles in a game is 10 against UT Martin in 2001.
• Memphis swept Illinois State in a three-game series Feb. 24-26, marking the Tigers first sweep since the second weekend of last season against SIU Edwardsville.
• As part of the sweep of the Redbirds, Memphis rallied from an 11-0 deficit to win 12-11 in extra innings during the second game of the series on Feb. 25. The comeback win is the largest in the Daron Schoenrock era of Memphis baseball.
• Freshman shortstop Alec Trela was named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll March 20 after helping the Tigers to a series win over Missouri State. Trela had a career high four hits in the second game of the series and drove in two runs. In the series finale Trela hit a clutch two-run home run to tie the game 4-4 in the sixth inning. This season he is batting .273 and leads the team with seven doubles and three homers.
• Memphis had a junior pitcher named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll after the first four weeks of the season. RHP Connor Alexander twice received the recognition after starts against Illinois State and Southern Illinois. RHP Colton Hathcock was honored after recording three saves in a four game stretch and LHP Drew Crosby was recognized after his opening weekend start against Tennessee.
• After the first three weeks of the season, Memphis starting pitching had compiled a 7.16 ERA through 12 starts and 44 innings pitched. The weekend rotation of Alex Hicks, Drew Crosby and Connor Alexander has bounced back though, with four quality starts over the last two weekends.
• Memphis had a record-setting opening weekend against Tennessee at FedExPark. The two teams squared off Sunday Feb. 19 in front of the largest crowd in FedExPark history of 2,188. The three-game series set another facility record, attracting 4,793 fans throughout the weekend.
• Memphis started the season with 15 of its first 16 games at home and the Tigers will play five-of-six weekends at home in non-conference play. In all Memphis will play 35 home games, including two at AutoZone Park.
• More than 70-percent of the Tigers' innings pitched last season were by freshmen and sophomores and all 10 of those players return this season. This year's pitching staff is rounded out by the addition of four incoming freshmen pitchers and two junior college transfers.