Feb. 21, 2013

Games 5-7
February 22-24, 2013 - Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Tigers  1-3 (0-0 C-USA) Memphis Notes  Media Guide C-USA Notes		Game 5 - Friday - 4:00 PM				Missouri Tigers                         0-3 (0-0 SEC) Missouri Notes  Media Guide SEC Notes
		LHP Sam Moll (0-1 6.75 ERA)		LHP Rob Zaastryzny (0-1 5.06 ERA)
		Listen on WUMR 91.7 FM
		Game 6 - Saturday - 2:00 PM
		LHP Erik Schoenrock (0-0 5.06 ERA)		RHP Brett Graves (0-0 1.80 ERA)
		Listen on WUMR 91.7 FM (Joined In Progress)
		Game 7 - Sunday - 1:00 PM
		LHP Alex Gunn (0-0 0.00 ERA)		RHP Eric Anderson (0-0 0.00 ERA)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - For the first time since 1981, Memphis (1-3) plays host to a SEC team as Missouri (0-3) visits FedExPark for a three-game series. LHP Sam Moll (0-1) is scheduled to face Missouri's Rob Zastryzny on Friday at 4 p.m. and LHP Erik Schoenrock (0-0) is slated to face RHP Brett Graves in game two on Saturday at 2 p.m. The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. with LHP Alex Gunn (0-0) face RHP Eric Anderson.

With heavy rains on Thursday in the Bluff City, game times are subject to change and the series could be altered. Any schedule changes for the weekend will be posted here on GoTigersGo.com or posted on Memphis Baseball's official Twitter account, @UofMBaseball .

Follow The Action
RADIO - Fans can listen locally on WUMR - FM 91.7 ... Jeff Brightwell, in his 10th season as the "Voice of the Tigers," brings the play-by-play ... Pregame show on WUMR begins 15 minutes prior to first pitch.

INTERNET - GoTigersGo.com will offer live play-by-play and statistics ... Fans can watch the game on the Memphis Tiger Network ... Live stats are available through GameTracker, linked on the preview for the game.

TWITTER - @UofMBaseball is the official Twitter account for Memphis Baseball. Follow the Tigers throughout the season for in-game updates, behind the scenes photos and much more.

Familiar Territory
Last season, Memphis opened the season 1-2, and lost their next game to take a 1-3 record into game five of the season. The Tigers defeated Kennesaw State in games five and six on the year to sit at 3-3 after the first two weeks of the season. This season, Memphis opened with a 1-2 record against Illinois State and took its third loss against Arkansas State on Tuesday.

Home Heavy First Half
Memphis has a home heavy schedule in 2013 with 36 of 56 games at FedExPark. The Tigers will need to take advantage of the home turf as 27-of-36 home contests (75 percent) will be completed by the fourth league series on April 12 at UAB.

Getting Runners On Base
Last season, when Memphis had 14 or more runners reach base in a game, the Tigers had a record of 26-15. On the other side, when the U of M had 13 or fewer base runners in a game, Memphis had a 5-13 mark. So far in 2013, Memphis is 1-2 when 14 or more reach base and 0-1 when having 13 or fewer base runners in a game.

Home Cookin
The Tigers open the 2013 schedule with 13 of their first 14 games at FedExPark. The U of M carries a 54-40 home record since the stadium became FedExPark in 2010. Coach Daron Schoenrock has guided the Tigers to a 116-115 record at home since taking over the program in 2005. After a rough 4-20 home record in 2005, Memphis has a 112-89 mark at home.

February Baseball
Since Memphis first played a February home game in the 1984 season, the Tigers have an impressive 56-23-1 record in February home games. Under Coach Schoenrock, Memphis is 11-9 in February home games, including a 3-3 mark last season. Overall, the U of M carries a 105-67-1 record in February games. Below is a table showing Memphis' record in all February games since 2005.

The Inside Edge - Missouri
Missouri was swept at 23rd-ranked Southern Miss in Hattiesburg last weekend. Despite the sweep, Mizzou led in each of the final two games before blowing leads in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. Mizzou lost 5-2 on Friday night before falling 5-3 on Saturday and 6-1 on Sunday. Missouri is led offensively by Sal Belfonte with a .375 average. Dane Opel and Keaton Steele pace Missouri with two RBI and Missouri has three steals on seven attempts. On the mound, the Mizzou starters all pitched five innings on opening weekend and combined to allow four earned runs in the 15.1 innings pitched. Missouri struck out 14 batters on opening weekend, but walked 13 hitters.

A Look Back
Last season, Memphis traveled to Columbia to take on Missouri and came back to the Bluff City with the programs first ever series win over a Big 12 foe. Missouri has since joined the SEC, but the two squads have familiar faces from the series last season. Below is a look at the returners for each side and their stats for the series last season.

The Run Around
Memphis pitching has posted a 3.16 ERA thus far allowing a total of 17 runs, 13 earned, in the first four outings. Going back to 1978, there have been 14 occasions in which the pitching staff held the opposition to 17 or less runs over the first four games of a season. Prior to this season, the last time the Tigers achieved the feat was in 2008, allowing 14 runs. The 2013 season is the first occasion in which the pitching staff has limited the opponents to 17 or less and the Tigers have scored less than the opposition. The table below shows the years that Memphis has limited opponents to 17 or less runs in first four games and the win/loss record in those games.

Four Score And...
Since 1970, Memphis has an 847-181-1 (.823) record when opponents score four or fewer runs. Under head coach Daron Schoenrock the Tigers are 116-39 (.748) when the pitching staff holds the opposition under four runs. Year-by-year breakdown is below:

Experience Factor
Taking a look at the roster, there is a mix of experience and youth. Ethan Gross (103) and Derrick Thomas (102) offer the most starting experience. Ford Wilson is the only other player with more than a season (56 games) worth of experience as he has 59 career starts. Colton Simbeck has made 50 starts. The opening day lineup averaged of 31 starts among nine players.

Is Six The Magic Number
If the Tigers get six runs on the board, the success of the team goes with it. Since 1970, the U of M is 886-217-1 (.803) when scoring six or more runs. Under Coach Schoenrock, Memphis sports a 155-79 (.662) record. Year-by-year breakdown is below:

Ironman
Shortstop Ethan Gross made his 100th career start in the season opener last week. If Gross starts each game this season he could break the record for consecutive games started. He has started 97 consecutive games entering the weekend. Gross has started every game since March 26, 2011 against East Carolina, the second game of the doubleheader.

Cardiac Kids
The Tigers played 22 nail biters last season and sported a 10-12 record in games decided by two runs or less. Memphis won 12-of-15 games down the stretch run last season and in those games, the Tigers were 8-2. Under head coach Daron Schoenrock, Memphis is 85-105 in games decided by two runs or less, 0-1 in 2013.

Stick It To Cancer
This season, Tiger baseball has teamed up with The Cure Baseball, to create awareness about cancer through the game of baseball. The Tigers are taking part in the Stick It To Cancer Campaign by placing The Cure Baseball's Logo sticker on the back of their batting helmets. The Tigers wear this sticker as a visual sign of support for every man, woman and child battling any and all types of cancer.

The Cure Baseball is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a goal of raising cancer awareness through the game of baseball. You can read more about the organization and its mission by visiting TheCureBaseball.org.