Tigers Looking to Rebound Tuesday Against SEMO

Tuesday, February 27

Memphis, Tenn.

4 p.m.

University of Memphis

Southeast Missouri

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Feb 26, 2018 | Baseball

Memphis Baseball Notes vs. SEMO

Memphis hoping to snap four-game losing streak

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team is looking to get back on track as the Tigers host Southeast Missouri Tuesday at 4 p.m. at FedExPark. The game will be the first "Dollar Hot Dog Night" of the season.

GAME INFORMATION:
Memphis (2-5) vs. Southeast Missouri (2-6)
Tuesday, Feb. 27 – 4 p.m.
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Venue: FedExPark
Twitter Updates: @MemphisBaseball
Audio: WUMR 91.7 FM
Video: Memphis Tiger Network
Live Stats: GoTigersGo.com

Leading Off:
• Memphis and Southeast Missouri will meet for the first time since 2014, when the Tigers swept the Redhawks in a three-game weekend series. The Tigers hold a 27-19 advantage in the series since 1985. The two teams used to meet regularly, playing each season from 1992-2003.
• The Tigers enter the week on a four-game losing streak. Memphis' season-long losing streak was five games last season. The Tigers lost 10-of-11 games, including two five-game losing streaks, during an stretch with eight games against ranked teams in April.
• SEMO has a 2-6 record after starting the season 0-5. The Redhawks are batting .254 as a team and the pitching staff has compiled a 5.02 ERA. The offense is led by second baseman Trevor Ezell with a .500 batting average, 11 RBI and six runs scored.
• Sophomore LHP Danny Denz is expected to make his second start of the season and his fifth career start for Memphis. Denz has a career 5.76 ERA in 25 innings pitched with 25 strikeouts to 14 walks.
• Senior outfielder Tyler Webb has a hit in all six games he has played this season and has reached base in 25-straight contests dating back to last season. Webb is the Tigers' leading hitter with a .500 batting average, four doubles, four RBI and five runs scored.

On-Base Machine
Outfielder Tyler Webb has reached base safely in 25 games dating back to last season. The senior has a hit in all six games played this year, leading the team with a .500 batting average, 11 hits and four doubles. Webb was the Tigers only representative on the American Athletic Conference preseason All-Conference team. The Prosper, Texas, native batted .305 with 65 hits, 16 doubles and 43 runs scored last season.

Scuffling
Memphis has lost four-straight games since starting the season with a series win over Western Kentucky. The Tigers have been in nearly every game though, with four of the team's five losses coming by two runs or less. In all four of those close losses, Memphis had the tying run either on base or at the plate.

Clean-Up on Aisle Four
The fourth spot in the batting order is traditionally reserved for run producers, and so far this season Memphis is still searching for the right player to fill that role. This season the Tigers' clean-up hitters have combined to bat just .143 with only four hits in 28 at-bats. The clean-up spot has produced just two RBI and left 11 men on base through the first seven games. Memphis has tried three different players in the four-hole: Cale Henneman (4), Kyle Ouellette (2) and most recently Alec Trela (1).

Jekyll And Hyde
During the Opening Weekend against Western Kentucky Memphis pitching was lights out, allowing just four total runs (three earned) over 27 innings pitched. The Tigers struck out 30 batters and only walked seven. The trio of starting pitchers – Riley Cabral, Jonathan Bowlan and Alex Hicks – allowed just one earned run and two of the three pitched six-plus innings. It was a different story against Eastern Illinois a week later, as the Tigers allowed 19 runs in 27 innings and struck out 22 with 13 walks. None of the three Memphis starting pitchers made it out of the fifth inning and each gave up three or more runs.

The Bullpen
A number of Tiger relief pitchers have had a solid start to the season. Despite a rough weekend against Eastern Illinois, there are still seven relievers that have yet to allow a run. RHP James Muse has made three appearances this season and in 5.2 innings pitched has allowed just three hits and struck out seven. Hunter Smith has five scoreless innings pitched over four appearances with seven strikeouts. Blake Bennett also has four scoreless relief appearances, spanning 3.1 innings. Alex Smith, Takoda Metoxen, Drew Talley and Taylor Bobo have also all kept the opposition off the board.

Tri-Star Classic March 2-4
Memphis will compete in the first ever Tri-Star Classic this weekend, hosted at the home of the Chicago Cubs Double-A Affiliate Tennessee Smokies. The Tigers will face Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, and East Tennessee State at Smokies Park in Kodak, Tenn. This will be the third-consecutive season that the Tigers and Volunteers have played after a short hiatus. Memphis and East Tennessee have not played since 1978.