Memphis (30-26) defeated Southern Miss (30-24) on Wednesday in game one of the 2012 Conference USA Championship presented by Trustmark
2012 - Sophomore Everyday shortstop that hit leadoff in 48 of 59 games ... Finished season with a .251 average and 19 RBI ... Hit .272 with 10 RBI and 14 runs scored in C-USA play ... Had seven doubles and one triple and scored 41 runs ... Had 20 multiple hit games and had three hits against SIU-Edwardsville (2/18) and Houston (5/17) ... Had a four-game streak with two hits a game from April 8 to April 14 ... Had a season long 14-game streak of reaching base ... Was 3-for-4 with three runs scored against SIU-Edwardsville (2/18) ... Went 2-for-5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored against Kennesaw State (2/26) ... In game one of doubleheader against Siena (3/17), scored three runs and went 2-for-5 with a double ... Scored six runs in series at Houston and was 5-for-12 at the plate ... Committed eight errors in 258 chances ... Went the final 10 games without an error, tied for his longest streak during the season.
2011 - Freshman Played in 48games in first season at Division I level and worked his way into 40 starts, 24 at 2B and 16 at SS...Made his collegiate debut against Evansville (2/20/11) and drew a walk...Notched his first career hit against Southern Illinois (3/6/11) and in his first start collected his first multi-hit performance, with two hits at Auburn (3/8/11)...Registered first career extra-base hit, a triple, against Alcorn State (4/1/11)...Tallied first career RBI against Alcorn State (4/2/11)...Collected a season-high five putouts against East Carolina (3/26/11) and Southern Miss (4/10/11)... Had his best statistical performance at No. 19 Rice (5/14/11), going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, one RBI, a walk and his first career stolen base...Finished the season with nine multi-hit games and a 13-game hit streak, the second-longest streak of the season by any Tiger...Also carries a 16-game on-base streak into the 2012 campaign.
Prep Was a four-year letterwinner at shortstop for head coach Mark Purvis...Guided MJHS to a 133-43 mark in his four-year prep career...Helped the Golden Bears to two Region 5 championships, four District crowns and three sectional titles...Batted over .400, with 114 RBI and 14 home runs in high school...Hit .422 with eight jacks and 55 RBI to lead Mt. Juliet to a 37-9 finish and a State Final 4 appearance...Named a Tennessee State Writer's Association (TSWA) and Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association (TBCA) All-State performer in 2010...Selected as a 2010 All-Midstate player by The Tennessean...Hit .385 with 34 runs scored, 31 RBI and five home runs on his way to garnering 2009 9AAA All-District team honors for the second-straight year...Named to the 9AAA All-Tournament team and hauled in 2009 Third Team All-Mid-State accolades after guiding MJHS to its third-straight District Championship in 2009...Helped Mt. Juliet to a 31-13 record and finished as the Tennessee State Runner-Up...A two-time TBCA Junior Sunbelt Team Tennessee member...Selected to the 2008 TBCA Super Sophomore Team after hitting .398 with a homer and 28 RBI...Named the Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association Most Valuable Player in 2007...Was a two-year member of the Kansas City Royals Scout Team...Also excelled on the hardwood as a three-year letterman...Was a two-year starter at point guard...Earned 9AAA All-District honors and helped guided the Golden Bears to a 9AAA District Runner-Up finish in 2009.
Personal Son of Richard and Teresa Gross...Graduated in top-10 percent of his class at Mt. Juliet High School...Undecided on a major.
