Memphis Hosts Nationally-Ranked Houston in AAC Series

Thursday, April 13

Memphis, Tenn.

6:30 PM

University of Memphis

Houston

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Memphis Hosts Nationally-Ranked Houston in AAC Series

Apr 12, 2017 | Baseball

Game Notes vs. Houston

Tigers and Cougars to play Thursday, Friday and Saturday at FedExPark

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After starting American Athletic Conference play with two road series, Memphis will host No. 11 Houston at FedExPark for the Tigers' league home opener.

With Easter Sunday ahead, this week's conference series is scheduled to be played Thursday through Saturday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday and the series will wrap up with a noon first pitch Saturday.

Memphis last hosted a nationally-ranked Houston Cougars squad over Easter Weekend of 2015, when the Tigers took two-of-three to win the series. The Cougars won the series opener but Memphis won the next two games.

SERIES INFORMATION:
Memphis (20-13, 2-4 AAC) vs. Houston (23-9, 4-2 AAC)
Date: April 13-15, 2017
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Venue: FedExPark
Twitter Updates: @MemphisBaseball

Thursday, April 13 | 6:30 p.m.
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: Memphis TigerNetwork
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
MEM: So. RHP Alex Hicks (4-2, 4.30 ERA)
HOU: So. LHP Trey Cumbie (5-0, 1.04 ERA)

Friday, April 14 | 6:30 p.m.
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: Memphis TigerNetwork
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
MEM: Jr. LHP Drew Crosby (4-0, 3.02 ERA)
HOU: So. RHP Mitch Ullom (5-2, 2.50 ERA)

Saturday, April 15 | 12 p.m.
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: Memphis TigerNetwork
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
MEM: Jr. RHP Connor Alexander (5-2, 3.21 ERA)
HOU: Sr. LHP John King (4-1, 3.12 ERA)

Leading Off
• Memphis is looking to get back on track after a season-long four-game losing streak. The Tigers were swept last weekend in a three-game conference series for the first time since 2012. The Tigers had won six consecutive weekend series this season leading up to the sweep at UConn.
• The Tigers won their 20th game on April 5 against Alcorn State, marking significant improvement from last season. Memphis ended the 2016 regular season with 19 wins and picked up the 20th on May 26 in the American Athletic Conference tournament.
• The series win at Cincinnati was the first for Memphis over the Bearcats since 2004 and the first for head coach Daron Schoenrock. The Bearcats won the series over Schoenrock's Tigers in 2005 before joining the Big East Conference. The teams reunited in the American Athletic Conference in 2014. The Tigers and Bearcats played two series in 2015 and 2016.
• The Tigers finished off the season sweep of nationally-ranked Ole Miss with a 2-1 walk-off win at AutoZone Park March 21. The sweep of the Rebels is the first since 2013. With a 3-3 record so far against teams from the SEC, Memphis sits at 17-17 over the last five seasons versus the nation's toughest conference. The Tigers are still scheduled to play two games against Arkansas in April.
• As part of the Tigers Feb. 24-26 sweep of Illinois State, Memphis rallied from an 11-0 deficit to win 12-11 in extra innings during the second game of the series. The comeback win is the largest in the Daron Schoenrock era of Memphis baseball.
• Senior outfielder Chris Carrier was named the American Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week April 3 after slugging two doubles and three homers in four games during the week. The conference weekly recognition is the third of his career.
• 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. Jonathan Bowlan and Andy Bowman were then both named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll March 27.
• After the first three weeks of the season, Memphis starting pitching had compiled a 7.16 ERA through 12 starts and 44 innings pitched. With Alex Hicks joining Drew Crosby and Connor Alexander in the weekend rotation, the Tigers have seen a bounce-back, with nine quality starts over the last five 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 played five-of-six weekends at home in non-conference play. The start to league play wasn't as friendly, with trips to Cincinnati and UConn right out of the gate. In all Memphis will play 35 home games, including the 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.