Memphis Welcomes Tennessee to FedExPark this Weekend

Friday, February 17

Memphis, Tenn.

4:00 PM

University of Memphis

Tennessee

Photo by: Michael Gardner

Memphis Welcomes Tennessee to FedExPark this Weekend

Feb 16, 2017 | Baseball

Game Notes vs. Teneessee

Tigers and Volunteers to play first three-game series in Memphis since 1981

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – College baseball's opening weekend is annually one of the most anticipated times of the year, and this season the excitement has been building around FedExPark on the University of Memphis campus.

The 2017 opening weekend is likely the most enticing matchup for the Memphis baseball program in 30 years, as the Tigers welcome the Tennessee Volunteers for a three-game series from Feb. 17-19.

This weekend's Memphis Baseball series against Tennessee is presented by Jack Pirtle's Chicken. Fans will also have the opportunity to pick up a Memphis Baseball schedule magnet, presented by YMCA, prior to Saturday's game.

GAME INFORMATION:
Memphis (0-0) vs. Tennessee (0-0)
Date: February 17-19, 2017
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Venue: FedExPark
Twitter Updates: @MemphisBaseball

Friday, Februay 17 | 4 p.m. CT
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: MemphisTigerNetwork
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
MEM: R-Fr. RHP Tyler Walton (N/A)
UT: Sr. RHP Hunter Martin (3-3, 2.03 ERA in 2016)

Saturday, February 18 | 2 p.m. CT
Video: MemphisTigerNetwork
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
MEM: Jr. LHP Drew Crosby (0-2, 6.88 ERA in 2016)
UT: Jr. LHP Zach Warren (5-5, 4.04 ERA in 2016)

Sunday, February 19 | 1 p.m. CT
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: MemphisTigerNetwork
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
MEM: Jr. RHP Connor Alexander (2-7, 5.19 ERA in 2016)
UT: So. RHP Will Neely (1-3, 3.96 ERA in 2016)

Leading Off
• Memphis and Tennessee will square off in a three-game series for the second-consecutive season. In 2016 the teams opened the season in Chattanooga with the Volunteers winning two-of-three games.
• Despite dropping the series last season the Tigers hold an 18-14 advantage against Tennessee since 1979. Memphis won eight straight over the Vols from 1981-84.
• Tennessee is visiting FedExPark for the first time since 2012 when a stadium record 2,107 fans were in attendance for a narrow 8-7 win by the Volunteers. This is the first three-game series between the two teams played in Memphis since 1981. The Tigers swept that series.
• Memphis begins the season with 14 of its first 16 games at FedExPark. The Tigers will play five-of-six weekends at home in non-conference play. In all Memphis will play 34 home games, including two at AutoZone Park.
• Five seniors will scatter the Memphis lineup this season. Infielders Andy Bowman, Brandon Grudzielanek, Zach Schritenthal and Trent Turner as well as outfielder Chris Carrier are all expected to make significant contributions. Left-handed pitcher Ryan Garner is the only senior on the Tigers' pitching staff.
• Carrier enters the season as an American Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference player. He has a career batting average of .261 in 115 games played with 65 RBI and 67 runs scored. Carrier started 55 games last season, batting .280 and leading the team with 38 RBI and 45 runs scored.
• Grudzielanek was named second team all-conference after starting all 61 games last season and batting .292 with 32 RBI and 39 runs scored. Schritenthal has played in more than 100 games at Memphis and has a career batting average over .260.
• 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 will be rounded out by the addition of four incoming freshmen pitchers and two junior college transfers.
• Junior pitchers Connor Alexander and Colton Hathcock will anchor the pitching staff again in 2017. The juniors each pitched more than 80 innings last season and were the team's strikeout leaders.
• The Tigers started last season with a platoon at first base before sophomore Jacob Elliott took over full-time at the position. Elliott went on to start 46 games at first base for Memphis and batted .269 with 30 RBI and 22 runs scored. His four home runs were second on the team.
• Two newcomers are expected to feature in the starting lineup on Opening Day. Junior transfer outfielder Tyler Webb and freshman infielder Alec Trela have impressed the Tigers' coaching staff early in their careers.
• Fans can purchase single game tickets for this weekend's games versus Tennessee or buy a season ticket package starting at $65 that includes all three games against Tennessee and games against Ole Miss and Mississippi State AutoZone Park.