Tigers end regular season at Wichita State

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – To wrap up the regular season, the Memphis Tigers head to Wichita, Kan. for a four-game series vs. the Wichita State Shockers. After Memphis' first series split of the conference season last weekend vs. Houston, the Tigers look to end the campaign on a high note against the third best team in the conference. The series gets underway with a split doubleheader Thursday.

Series Information
Memphis (16-34, 6-22) vs. Wichita State (27-20, 15-12)
Thursday, May 20 – 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
            RH Carson Stinnett (3-5, 5.59) vs. RH Jace Kaminska (6-1, 2.40)
Thursday, May 20 – 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
            LH Chris Durham (3-6, 6.37) vs. RH Liam Eddy (5-7, 5.72)
Friday, May 21– 6 p.m.
            RH Landon Kelly (2-2, 6.42) vs. RH Preston Snavely (3-6, 5.16)
Saturday, May 22 – 12 p.m.
            RH Blake Wimberley (2-8, 6.71) vs. LH Gareth Stroh (0-0, 9.00)

Location: Wichita, Kan.
Venue: Eck Stadium
Twitter Updates: @MemphisBaseball
Stats | Watch

Memphis is just 2-18 in true road games this season, while Wichita State is 17-7 at their home ballpark. The Shockers have had eight games vs. ranked opposition this season, with two losses to No. 17 Oklahoma State, a two-game split at No. 13 Arizona, and a four-game split at home vs. No. 8 East Carolina. Wichita State has earned at least a split in three straight conference series and started its AAC campaign 7-1 in a home and home with Houston.

Memphis and Wichita State have met just six times dating back to 1978, as the Tigers dropped two of three on the road to the Shockers in 2019, while Wichita State picked up a series win in Memphis in 2018. Wichita State is third in the conference in BA (.275) and fourth in runs scored (293). The Shockers' pitching staff ranks fourth in ERA (4.81), but second to last in strikeouts (356).

The Shockers enter the weekend with four qualified hitters batting north of .300, the only team in the conference to do so. Corrigan Bartlett (.351) is fourth in the AAC, Paxton Wallace (.315) and Jack Sigrist (.314) sit 10^th and 11^th respectively, while Hunter Gibson (.307) sports the 13^th best average among qualified hitters. Sigrist is tied for second in doubles (14) and fifth in stolen bases (14).

In the rotation, Wichita State has only gotten above average pitching from Jace Kaminska, who is slated to start the series opener. Kaminska is the only pitcher to start a game for the Shockers that has an ERA under 5.00. His 2.40 ERA ranks second in the AAC, while he has held opponents to a .240 OBA, fifth in the conference. Out of the bullpen, Aaron Haase has been one of the top closers in the AAC. Haase is 2-1 with a 1.14 ERA and has eight saves in 16 appearances. He leads the league in games finished (16) and is tied for the league lead in saves.

Both games of Thursday's split doubleheader will be available on ESPN+. The series gets underway at 1 p.m. Thursday at Eck Stadium.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Chris Durham

Landon Kelly

Carson Stinnett

Blake Wimberley

University of Memphis Athletics