Tigers Home Stand Continues with Illinois State this Weekend

Friday, February 24

Memphis, Tenn.

4:00 PM

University of Memphis

Illinois State

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Tigers Home Stand Continues with Illinois State this Weekend

Feb 23, 2017 | Baseball

Game Notes vs. Illinois State

Memphis back on the field after exciting opening weekend

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis has had a few days to come down from the excitement of playing in front of record-setting crowds against Tennessee on opening weekend at FedExPark. Now it's time for the Tigers to get back to work and to focus on winning their first series of the season, against Illinois State this weekend at FedExPark.

The Redbirds (2-1) are making a second-consecutive trip to the state of Tennessee after opening the season at the Governors Challenge hosted by Austin Peay. Illinois State won games against Indiana State and Youngstown State but lost to the Governors.

Memphis (1-2) lost two-of-three to Tennessee but had plenty of positives from the weekend. Junior pitcher Drew Crosby was named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll after he pitched the Tigers to a win in Game 2 of the series. Infielder Trent Turner had a solid opening weekend, batting .400 with two doubles, a home run, two RBI and three runs scored.

GAME INFORMATION:
Memphis (1-2) vs. Illinois State (2-1)
Date: February 24-26, 2017
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Venue: FedExPark
Twitter Updates: @MemphisBaseball

Friday, Februay 24 | 4 p.m. CT
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: MemphisTigerNetwork
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
MEM: R-Fr. RHP Tyler Walton (0-1, 7.36 ERA)
Illinois State: Sr. RHP Jack Landwehr (0-0, 11.25 ERA)

Saturday, February 25 | 2 p.m. CT
Video: MemphisTigerNetwork
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
MEM: Jr. LHP Drew Crosby (1-0, 1.50 ERA)
Illinois State: Sr. RHP David Meade (0-1, 18.00 ERA)

Sunday, February 26 | 1 p.m. CT
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: MemphisTigerNetwork
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
MEM: Jr. RHP Connor Alexander (0-1, 32.40 ERA)
Illinois State: TBA

Leading Off
• Memphis and Illinois State have met 22 times since 1978, with the most recent meeting on the opening weekend of the 2013 season. The Tigers hold a 17-5 advantage over the Redbirds.
• The Tigers and Redbirds started the 2013 season with a three-game series at FedExPark. Memphis rallied for a win in the series finale to salvage the weekend.
• Illinois State will be making its second trip to the state of Tennessee in as many weeks. The Redbirds opened the season and went 2-1 at the Governors Challenge, hosted by Austin Peay.
• 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.
• Memphis had a record-setting opening weekend against Tennessee at FedExPark. The two teams squared off Sunday 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.
• Junior left-handed pitcher Drew Crosby was named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll after tossing six solid innings and allowing just one run against Tennessee in his season debut.
• 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 entered the season as an American Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference player. He entered the season with 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Two newcomers will be consistent members of the Tigers' lineup this season. Junior transfer outfielder Tyler Webb and freshman infielder Alec Trela have impressed the Tigers' coaching staff early in their careers.