April 9, 2007

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - For the second consecutive week and third time this year, a Memphis hitter took home the Conference USA Hitter of the Week honor. Last week it was Bill Moss, this week it is senior Michael Murray that takes home the accolades after a near-perfect weekend at No. 21 Tulane. A native of Baton Rouge, La., Murray went 9-for-11 and led Memphis to its first C-USA series win over the Green Wave since 1996. Murray is the fourth Tiger to earn C-USA weekly honors this year.

Murray was nearly perfect in leading Memphis to its second straight C-USA series win and first league win over Tulane in 11 years. In the three games in New Orleans, Murray hit .818, with five runs scored, a pair of doubles and an RBI. He slugged 1.000 and reached base at a .846 clip. The senior went 7-for-7 seven in the two Tigers wins before recording an out on Saturday. Murray posted multiple hits in each contest and has now hit safely in 17 consecutive games--the longest hit streak at Memphis since Kevin House ended the 2003 season with an identical 17-game hit streak. The senior shortstop got the weekend started with a career night on Friday, going 5-for-5 with three runs scored, a double and an RBI. He added two more hits and a stolen base in the series clincher, before wrapping up the weekend with a 2-for-3 performance on Sunday. In the series finale, Murray scored two runs and recorded a double. Murray reached base in 11 of his 13 plate appearances, including reaching in eight times in his nine trips to the plate.

Now 5-4 in Conference USA, Memphis has defeated the likes of No. 29 Southern Miss and No. 21 Tulane in consecutive weekends. The Tigers took five straight from the two after sweeping USM and taking the first two contests at Tulane. Dating back to last year, the Tigers have won four of the last five league series.

Murray's honor represents just the second time in Memphis baseball history that Tigers hitters have garnered the league's Hitter of the Week award in consecutive weeks. Dan Uggla and Barrett Smith were the only other Tiger hitters to do so when the duo received the awards on March 19 and March 14, respectively, in the 2001 season. The honor also marks the first time ever that Memphis has attained the award three time in a single season since the inception of Conference USA. Mark Little and Cary Fenton combined to earn the Great Midwest Hitter of the Week awards four times in the 1994 season.

The Tigers will hit the road on Tues., April 10 for their fourth consecutive road game. Memphis will take on the Murray State Thoroughbreds at Reagan Field in Murray, Ky. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.