Memphis Welcomes MTSU to FedExPark for Midweek Series

Tuesday, March 7

Memphis, Tenn.

6:30 PM

University of Memphis

Middle Tennessee

Memphis Welcomes MTSU to FedExPark for Midweek Series

Mar 06, 2017 | Baseball

Game Notes vs. Middle Tennessee

Tigers and Blue Raiders to play Tuesday and Wednesday at FedExPark

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis and Middle Tennessee will face off Tuesday and Wednesday at FedExpark in the annual series between the two schools. The Tigers will be looking to retake the lead in the series after getting swept in a pair of games by the Blue Raiders last season.

Both teams come into the week after winning a three-game series at home. Memphis won two-of-three games against Georgia Southern and MTSU did the same against Kennesaw State.

GAME INFORMATION:
Memphis (7-3) vs. Middle Tennessee (5-6)
Date: March 7-8, 2017
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Venue: FedExPark
Twitter Updates: @MemphisBaseball

Tuesday, March 7 | 6:30 p.m. CT
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: MemphisTigerNetwork
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

Wednesday, March 8 | 4 p.m. CT
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: MemphisTigerNetwork
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

Leading Off
• Memphis and Middle Tennessee will play their annual midweek series with a pair of games at FedExPark. Last season the Blue Raiders won both meetings, first in Murfreesboro and then at the Ballpark at Jackson.
• The Tigers are fresh off of their second consecutive weekend series win. Memphis failed to win back-to-back series at any point last season.
• In midweek action last week, Memphis took down No. 8 Ole Miss, 9-6, in Oxford. Memphis starts 1-0 in midweek games after going just 2-12 last season.
• Memphis avenged last season's series loss to Georgia Southern by winning two-of-three games at FedExPark March 3-5. Tigers pitching held the Eagles in check Friday for a 5-2 win and on Sunday the bats came alive to score nine in the first inning and Memphis held on for a 9-8 win.
• 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.
• The Tiger bullpen has been strong so far this season, posting a 3.50 ERA in 54 innings pitched. Colton Hathcock has recorded five straight saves and hasn't allowed a run in those outings. Lefty Hunter Smith has been a weapon out of the bullpen with a 2.45 ERA in four outings.
• After recording three saves in a four-game stretch, Colton Hathcock became the third straight Memphis pitcher to be named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll. He enters the week tied for the national lead with five saves.
• Junior right-handed pitcher Connor Alexander had a bounce-back performance against Illinois State, pitching seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts to earn the Feb. 27 American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll recognition.
• Left-hander Drew Crosby received the league's weekly recognition on Feb. 20 after a six-inning start and win against Tennessee on opening weekend. Crosby struck out six batters and allowed just one run.
• 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.
• With the March 8 game moving to FedExPark from the Ballpark at Jackson, Memphis plays 15 of its first 16 games at home. 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.
• 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.
• Five seniors 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.
• Chris Carrier entered the season as an American Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference player. He is a career .257 hitter in 125 games played with 67 RBI and 74 runs scored. Carrier started 55 games last season, batting .280 and leading the team with 38 RBI and 45 runs scored.