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Baseball Hosts Creighton in Midweek Series
March 3, 2008
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis baseball squad will wrap up an early-season, seven-game home stretch with a two-game midweek series versus Creighton on Mar. 4-5. First pitch for both games is set for 4 p.m. at Nat Buring Stadium. About the Tigers Reigning Conference USA co-Hitter of the Week, sophomore Trey Wiedman ranks eighth in Conference USA with a .414 batting average. He is also tops on the squad with 12 hits, three home runs and a .759 slugging percentage. Junior Brett Bowen hits .367 and leads the team with eight RBI. Senior K.K. Chalmers has come on strong as of late and leads the way with seven stolen bases in eight attempts. Freshman outfielder Robby Graham is third on the team with a .350 average. Rookie infielder Adam McClain is getting acclimated to the college game. The Memphis, Tenn., native raised his average 134 points (to .217) with a 4-for-11 (.364)week. He also scored five runs, drove in four more and hit his first collegiate home run. The freshman has hit safely in each of the last four contests. The mound is where the Tigers have shined as 13 Memphis pitchers have combined for a 3.25 ERA. Junior Scott McGregor leads the troops with a stif 1.46 ERA-10th among C-USA pitchers. Brennon Martin is Tuesday's starter. The lefty is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in one appearance. In that outing, he was effective in six innings of work, striking out five (one shy of his career mark) and allowing just one earned run. Eight relievers have posted a 4.15 ERA led by closer Matt Yokley and middle reliever Neil Schenk. Yokley, Memphis's all-time saves leader is second in the league with two saves this year, while fanning six and maintaing a 0.00 ERA in three outings. Schenk has also been dominant, striking out seven in six innings.
Last Time Out Memphis 9, Ohio 4 Philip Utley scattered seven hits and struck out two to pick up his first win of the year and help Memphis defeat Ohio 9-4 in the series finale on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers win the series and even their record at 4-4 with the win. While the Tiger offense racked up runs, Utley cruised through the first five innings, holding Ohio to just three hits. The big righthander faced two batters over the minimum through five frames before the Bobcats got on the board with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. For the second straight game sophomore Trey Wiedman fueled a big inning with a home run. This time the sophomore pounded his team-leading third round tripper to power a three-run fifth that that put the ballgame out of reach, 7-0. Scouting the Blue Jays Coming off a 45-16 season and a trip to the NCAA Regionals, the Blue Jays return 14 letterwinners that include four position starters from last year. With 18 juniors and seniors, Creighton is a veteran club. Guided by 2007 Missouri Valley Coach of the Year Ed Servais, the Jays possess a wealth of talent. Offensively, junior transfer Vincente Cafaro leads the way with a torrid .588 average. He leads the team in hits (10), doubles (5) and runs scored (7). 2007 MVC Player fo the Year and Rawlings Gold Glove winner Darin Ruf has been strong in his junior season, hitting .391 with a homer and a team-best nine RBI. On the mound, Pat Venditte paces Jays staff with a 0.77 ERA in four appearances. Venditte (1-0), the 2007 MVC Tournament MVP, is the only ambidextrous pitcher in the nation. The senior has struck out 13 in 11.2 innings and holds opposing hitters to a .175 average. All-Time Series vs. Creighton On Deck |
Memphis Tigers
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