Tigers Gear Up for Crucial Home Series vs. Wichita State

Thursday, May 16

Memphis, Tenn.

6 P.M.

University of Memphis

Wichita State

Buy Tickets

Tigers Gear Up for Crucial Home Series vs. Wichita State

May 15, 2024 | Baseball

Game Notes (PDF)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis baseball team is back at home this weekend for a crucial, three-game American Athletic Conference series against Wichita State at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field, Thursday through Saturday.

The series with the Shockers will be the final three regular-season games of the year. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday with Saturday's finale scheduled for 1 p.m. All three games can be streamed live on ESPN+.

The Tigers (22-28, 9-15 AAC) dropped their series a week ago at UAB, two games to one, salvaging the Sunday finale by a score of 3-2. Wichita State (27-26, 13-11) come in winners of five-straight games after sweeping Charlotte in Wichita last weekend.

FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field will play host to the 18^th, 19^th and 20^th all-time meetings between the two teams, with the Shockers leading the all-time series, 11-6. The two teams split the season series, two games apiece, in 2023. The Tigers took two games and won the series over the 25^th-ranked Shockers at Eck Stadium in Wichita, Kansas, April 28-30, before defeating them in the opening round of the AAC Tournament in Clearwater, Florida, May 23.

With just one conference weekend remaining, Memphis (9-15) occupies 10^th place in the league standings but remains just two games out of fifth place. A series win over the Shockers along with help from East Carolina, UAB and/or UTSA could push the Tigers into the top-eight spots and send them to the AAC Tournament in Clearwater, Florida. A sweep of the Shockers largely increases the odds of a Clearwater bid.

The Memphis offense is averaging 6.4 runs per game to rank fifth in The American (332 total). The Tigers' 65 long balls rank third in the AAC and 96^th in the nation while their 96 doubles rank 104^th in the NCAA and fourth in the league.

Defensively, Memphis has turned the fifth-most double plays in the country (51). The Tigers' 83 stolen bases rank second in the conference and 45^th nationally while their 261 walks drawn rank 63^rd in the NCAA to lead The American.

Bahamian second baseman Daunte Stuart leads the team with a .328 batting. He was named American Athletic Conference Player of the Week on May 6 for his performances in the series win at Tulane. Stuart leads the Tigers in batting (.328), runs (48), hits (65), doubles (16) triples (2) and is tied for fourth on the squad in home runs (7). He's riding a nine-game hitting streak and has been on base in every game but one this season. Dating back to last season, Stuart has reached base safely in 69 of his past 70 contests.

Junior outfielder Pierre Seals is slashing a healthy .318/.553/.420 on the season with 16 stolen bases to lead the club (fifth-most in AAC). His 104 total bases are third most on the team and his 10 home runs are second most on the squad to only Compton. Seals was named to the AAC's Weekly Honor Roll on April 15 after leading the league in hitting (.583 AVG.) with a pair of home runs against UTSA (April 11-13).

Jacob Compton, the 2022 American RBI leader, trails Rice's Jack Riedel by one home run for the conference lead with 14 long balls on the season and ranks third in the league with 53 RBI. He's slashing .284/.568/.371 to go with 10 doubles and a triple on the season.

Closer Brayden Sanders has recorded nine saves – good for No. 10 in the country and the conference lead. Nine saves also ties Sanders with former Tiger Matt Yokley (2007) for the fifth-most in a single season at Memphis. He was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List on April 24. In 28 innings, the hard-throwing junior holds a 3.54 ERA with 36 punch outs.

Memphis' weekend rotation will be RHP David Warren (4-5, 6.18 ERA) on Thursday night followed by RHP Seth Garner (2-1, 5.63 ERA) on Friday and RHP Caden Robinson in Saturday's finale (1-4, 6.19 ERA).

The Shockers will counter with RHP Tommy LaPour, LHP Caden Favors and a starter to be announced for Saturday's finale. Offensively, Wichita State is led by Derek Williams (.330 AVG, 14 HR, 41 RBI) and Camden Johnson (.330 AVG, 12 2B, 26 RBI, 7 SB).

How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Baseball and to purchase tickets, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.