Tough Weekend series at UCF Up Next

Friday, April 28

Orlando, FL

5:30 PM

University of Memphis

UCF

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Apr 27, 2017 | Baseball

Game Notes vs. UCF

Memphis continues stretch of games against highly-ranked teams

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis begins the final quarter of the season with another tough test, traveling to UCF for a three-game weekend series. The Knights will be just the next tough test in a long stretch of games against highly-ranked teams.

Of the Tigers' last 13 games, 11 have been against teams in the top-50 of the RPI – Connecticut, Houston, Arkansas and USF. UCF currently sits in the top-25 of the RPI.

SERIES INFORMATION:
Memphis (23-19, 4-8 AAC) at UCF (29-12, 7-5 AAC)
Date: April 28-30, 2017
Location: Orlando, Fla.
Venue: UCF Baseball Complex
Twitter Updates: @MemphisBaseball

Friday, April 28 | 5:30 p.m. (CT)
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: UCFKNIGHTS.TV
Live Stats: UCFKnights.com
MEM: Jr. LHP Drew Crosby (4-1, 3.67 ERA)
USF: Sr. RHP Robby Howell (6-0, 2.97 ERA)

Saturday, April 29 | 3:30 p.m. (CT)
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: UCFKNIGHTS.TV
Live Stats: UCFKnights.com
MEM: So. RHP Blake Bennett (1-0, 2.45 ERA)
USF: Sr. RHP Juan Pimentel (6-2, 2.62 ERA)

Sunday, April 30 | 10:30 a.m. (CT)
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: UCFKNIGHTS.TV
Live Stats: UCFKnights.com
MEM: So. RHP Jonathan Bowlan (4-4, 4.82 ERA)
USF: Fr. LHP Joseph Sheridan (7-3, 3.44 ERA)

Memphis played just nine games against top-50 teams during the first half of the season, posting a 5-4 record with two wins each over Ole Miss and Missouri State and a win over Tennessee.

After getting out to a 20-9 start during the first half of the season, Memphis has gone just 3-10 since then.

The Tigers recent history with the Knights isn't great, having lost three straight series dating back to 2014. Memphis' last series win over UCF was in 2013 at FedExPark and the prior year the Tigers won two-of-three in Orlando.

Memphis closer Colton Hathock was named to the Midseason Watch List for the 13th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award. Hathcock picked up his 11th save of the season in the win at Arkansas State, which ranks in the top-10 nationally. The 11 saves are the third most by a Tigers pitcher in a single season in school history. The single-season program record for saves is 14, set by Nolan Blackwood in 2015.

Freshman shortstop Alec Trela has started all 42 games this season and is on pace to be the first Tigers first-year player to start every game since Jacob Wilson in 2009. Wilson went on to play in 222 career games and stands in the top-5 in nearly every Memphis offensive category. Trela is batting .273 and leads the team with 44 hits and 14 doubles. His 19 extra-base hits are the most on the team.

Junior college transfer Tyler Webb is the team's leading hitter in his first season with the program. The junior center fielder has a .301 batting average with 29 runs scored and 13 RBI. Webb's first career home run clinched the series win at Missouri State. He also drove in the game-winning run in the ninth inning at Arkansas State.

Memphis will be back at FedExPark next weekend to host Cincinnati for a three-game series May 5-7. The Tigers won two-of-three over the Bearcats in Cincinnati to open conference play several weeks ago.