Tigers Hit the Road for First Weekend Trip

Friday, March 17

Springfield, MO

3:00 PM

University of Memphis

Missouri State

Photo by: Michael Gardner

Mar 16, 2017 | Baseball

Game Notes vs. Missouri State

Memphis to take on Missouri State in three-game series

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After opening the season with 15-of-16 games at home, Memphis will hit the road for its first weekend series away from FedExPark. The Tigers travel to Missouri State for a three-game series March 17-19.

The only other time the Tigers have played away from FedExPark this season was for a single game at No. 8 Ole Miss. Memphis fared well in that game, knocking off the ranked Rebels 9-6. Like Ole Miss, Missouri State has already garnered some recognition nationally, receiving votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll the last two weeks.

GAME INFORMATION:
Memphis (10-6) at Missouri State (12-4)
Date: March 17-19, 2017
Location: Springfield, Mo.
Venue: Hammons Field
Twitter Updates: @MemphisBaseball

Friday, March 17 | 3 p.m. CT
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Live Stats: MissouriStateBears.com
MEM: So. RHP Alex Hicks (2-0, 2.08 ERA)
MSU: Sr. LHP Jordan Knutson (2-1, 2.13 ERA)

Saturday, March 18 | 2 p.m. CT
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Live Stats: MissouriStateBears.com
MEM: Jr. LHP Drew Crosby (2-0, 3.72 ERA)
MSU: So. RHP Dylan Coleman (2-0, 2.08 ERA)

Sunday, March 19 | 1 p.m. CT
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Live Stats: MissouriStateBears.com
MEM: Jr. RHP Connor Alexander (2-1, 4.22 ERA)
MSU: Jr. LHP Doug Still (2-0, 2.91 ERA)

Leading Off
• Memphis will make its first weekend road trip of the season to take on Missouri State in Springfield, Mo. The Tigers will look to avenge last season's series sweep at the hands of the Bears.
• The Tigers and Bears have met just nine times and all nine previous meetings were in Memphis. Missouri State holds a 6-3 advantage after last season's sweep.
• Memphis has already twice this season avenged series losses from 2016 – against Georgia Southern and Southern Illinois. The Tigers won the Friday and Sunday games of both series.
• Tiger hitters combined for seven doubles in the game against Mississippi Valley, 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.
• Memphis has had a junior pitcher named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll in all four weeks to start the season. RHP Connor Alexander has 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.
• Senior infielder Trent Turner has reached base safely in 26 consecutive games dating back to last season. Turner is the Tigers' leading run producer this year with 11 RBI and 10 runs scored. A versatile defender, he has started games at first base, second base and left field.
• Entering last weekend 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 had a bounce back against SIU, allowing just three earned runs in 20 innings.
• 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.