Memphis vs. Akron Notes
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March 15, 2007

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis baseball team will continue its seven-game homestand with the final non-conference weekend against Akron. The three-game set will begin with a 6:30 contest on Friday evening. The teams will meet and 2 p.m. and Noon on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Memphis is 9-6 on the year, but has dropped five of its last seven contests. The Tigers offense has gotten off to a slow start, hitting just .239 as a team. Bill Moss leads the way with a .397 average to go with a team-best five-doubles, five homers and 17 RBI. Moss hit two home runs and tied a program record with nine RBI in the Tigers' last outing. Senior Joey Lieberman bats .327 with 13 RBI. Junior outfielder K.K. Chalmers made Memphis baseball history on Wednesday, when he grabbed the program's all-time stolen base record. Chalmers has 67 swipes in his three years as a Tigers, eclipsing the former record of 66 set by Tim Dulin from 1982-85. Memphis is averaging just 4.4 runs per game.

The Tigers pitching staff has been solid, posting a 3.55 ERA and holding opposing hitters to just a .241 average. Seven pitchers have worked over 10 innings and have ERA's under 4.00. Sophomore Matt Yokley has 21 strikeouts in just 15.1 innings of work. He is 3-1 with a 2.35 ERA. Neil Schenk has enjoyed his most successful season, logging a staff-best 2.37 ERA. The southpaw is second on the pitching staff with 12 strikeouts. Dusty Davis has been the first option out of the Memphis bullpen. The senior has held opponents to just .182 hitting and is 2-0 in six relief appearances.

Akron is off to its best start in 10 years at 9-1. The Zips lone loss of the year came on Feb. 23, when they lost the Tigers, 4-2, in their season-opener. They have been perfect since, including posting five wins in Bradenton, Fla. last weekend. The Zips won three one-run contests in the week and have clinched five victories in its last at-bat.

Offense has been the strength of the team this year. Doug McNulty leads the offense with a strong .400 average. The first baseman is second on the club with five doubles and six RBI. The Zips hit .308 as a team and four other hitters have averages over .300. Vince Chiera is second on the squad with a .355 average. Charlie Lenhard has scored a team-high 11 runs for the Zips. He also paces the team with six doubles. The Akron outfielder is swinging a hot bat and hit .474 with four doubles, a triple, a home run, six runs scored and three RBI last weekend. Kurt Davidson anchors the Zips offense and leads the team with 10 RBI and a pair of home runs. He is eighth all-time at Akron with 21 home runs. The junior led the Zips in batting average (.338), home runs (12) and RBI (47) in 2006.

Akron pitchers have posted a combined 4.40 ERA in 10 games. Fifth-year senior Billy McKinney (1-1, 3.71 ERA) is the staff's ace. He has a staff-high 13 strikeouts in 17.0 innings of work. McKinney was the starter versus Memphis. He gave up two runs in five innings against the Tigers. Freshman Steven Zemanek II is next with a 4.72 ERA. The southpaw is 2-0 in two starts this year. Opponents have hit .320 against him. Saturday's starter Frank Turocy has started three games and has worked 15 innings this year. He maintains a 4.80 ERA and has 10 strikeouts. Opponents have fared well against him with a .305 average.