Memphis Faces Pivotal Weekend Series at Tulane

Friday, May 11

New Orleans, La.

6:30 p.m.

University of Memphis

Tulane

Photo by: Matthew Smith

May 10, 2018 | Baseball

Memphis Baseball Notes - at Tulane

Tigers battling for one of final two spots in The American Tournament

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Baseball travels to Tulane for the Tigers' final road series of the season, starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Turchin Stadium. The two teams, which are battling for a spot in the American Athletic Conference Tournament, will continue the series Saturday at 2 p.m. and conclude the weekend on Sunday at 1 p.m.

SERIES INFORMATION:
Date: May 11-13, 2018 | 6:30 p.m. | 2 p.m. | 1 p.m.
Location: New Orleans, La.
Venue: Turchin Stadium
Watch: Tulane All-Access
Listen: WUMR 91.7
Live Stats: TulaneGreenWave.com
Twitter Updates: @MemphisBaseball

Memphis enters a pivotal final two weekends of the regular season, battling Tulane and Wichita State for the final two spots in the American Athletic Conference Tournament. The Tigers control their own destiny, playing both the Green Wave and the Shockers to close out the season.

Memphis and Tulane face each other for the fourth time as members of the American Athletic Conference and the Green Wave lead the series 6-3 as AAC foes. The teams met every year as members of C-USA from 1996-2013.

The Tigers won Game 1 of last year's series in a 13-12 thriller that saw the teams combine for 28 hits and nine home runs. Last year's game one home run fest also marks the last time a Memphis Tiger hit two homers in a single game (Trent Turner).

The Green Wave is second in the American with 103 doubles this season and 10 Tulane batters have at least five doubles. Grant Witherspoon's 19 doubles tops the American, followed closely by Memphis' Tyler Webb, who has 17.

The Memphis pitching staff stands third in the American Athletic Conference with 430 strikeouts this season, while Tulane sits ninth in total strikeouts with 331 Ks in 49 games. The Tigers rank in the Top-50 nationally with 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

After striking out a Memphis and American Athletic Conference record 18 batters in the April 28 win over USF, junior pitcher Jonathan Bowlan was named Collegiate Baseball Newspaper National Player of the Week, Tennessee Sports Writers Pitcher of the Week and the American Pitcher of the Week. 18 Ks are the most by a Division I pitcher this season.

The weather has consistently impacted the Tigers' weekend schedule at FedExPark this season. Memphis has been forced to adjust start times in six-of-seven home series and has played four weekend doubleheaders. The Tigers have also had to adjust on the road, with several changes to the Tri-Star Classic schedule as well as a time change at Cincinnati.

With back-to-back wins under its belt, Memphis has won two-straight games for just the fourth time this season. This is the first time since 2005 that the Tigers have failed to win at least three-straight games during the first 12 weeks of the season. The 2005 team went the entire season without a winning streak.

Memphis continues to pile up close losses this season, with 20 defeats by three runs or less. The Tigers have seven one-run losses, nine two-run losses and four three-run losses. Five of the Tigers last six losses are by two runs or less.