Memphis travels to No. 2 Vanderbilt, hosts series vs. Miami (OH)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Tigers wrap up their six-game road swing against Power Five opposition on Tuesday vs. No. 2 Vanderbilt. The Tigers head to Nashville for a 4:30 p.m. start with the Commodores. After the mid-week matchup, Memphis will host Miami (OH) for a three-game series this weekend.

Series Information
Memphis (4-5) at No. 2 Vanderbilt (9-1)
Tuesday, March 9 – 4:30 p.m.
Pitching Matchup:
Memphis: RHP Carson Stinnett (2-1, 9.00)
Vanderbilt: RHP Christian Little (1-0, 4.50)
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Venue: Hawkins Field
Twitter Updates: @MemphisBaseball
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The Tigers face No. 2 Vanderbilt for the first time since 2014 and just the second time in the last 20 years. Memphis has dropped each of the last three meetings between the programs, as the Tigers haven't beaten Vanderbilt since March 21, 2000. Dating back to 1978, Vanderbilt holds a 12-11 edge in the all-time series, with wins each of the last two meetings at a neutral site as a top-20 opponent.

Vanderbilt's rotation is built around two of the consensus top-10 players in the next MLB Draft in Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter. Each has started three games so far and is 3-0 with a 0.60 ERA. The two have combined for 51 strikeouts in 30 innings.

Memphis will avoid the two aces of the Commodores' staff, as they will take on Christian Little on Tuesday. Little started for Vanderbilt on Feb. 24 vs. Western Kentucky and allowed just three hits and an unearned run over three innings. His last appearance came out of the bullpen against Georgia State, Feb. 28, when he allowed two runs on two hits in an inning of work.

The Commodores' offense has been on fire through the first 10 games of the season, as Vanderbilt has averaged 8.7 runs per game. Four different starters are hitting over .345. Dominick Keegan is off to one of the hottest starts in the country. Keegan is hitting .548 (17-31) with seven doubles, two triples, four home runs, and 15 RBIs. Carter Young (.385/4/10) and Enrique Bradfield Jr. (.367/0/5) have likewise started all 10 games for the Commodores and pace the offense.

Series Information
Memphis (4-5) vs. Miami (OH) (6-5)
Friday, March 12 – 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 13 – 12 p.m.
Sunday, March 14 – 2 p.m.
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Venue: FedExPark
Twitter Updates: @MemphisBaseball
Stats | Listen

The Tigers and RedHawks have no all-time meetings dating back to at least 1978. Miami enters the weekend series at 6-5 but has lost two of its previous three games, with losses to UCONN and Coastal Carolina on Friday and Saturday respectively before a win over Davidson on Sunday.

Miami's pitching has been solid to start the season, as three of the team's four starters that have made at least two starts currently sport a sub-4.00 ERA. Tyler Bosma (1-0, 3.65), Kenten Egbert (0-2, 3.86), and Sam Bachman (1-0, 0.82) have highlighted the RedHawks' rotation, while most of the Miami bullpen has been solid. Miami has a 3.77 ERA overall through its first 11 games and opponents are averaging 4.18 runs per game.

On the offensive side, Miami's starters have either been red hot or ice cold through the first month of the season. Five regulars are hitting .250 or better, while nine other players who have started at least one game are hitting .222 or worse. Nate Stone (.448/1/10) has been the best Miami hitter so far, with Nate Stolze (.375/2/8) close behind. Six Miami players who have started four or more games are hitting under .154.

Memphis travels to No. 2 Vanderbilt, hosts series vs. Miami (OH)

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Players Mentioned

Carson Stinnett

University of Memphis Athletics