April 16, 2007
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -
Fresh off of its third consecutive Conference USA series win, the University of Memphis baseball team will attempt to reverse its non-conference fortunes when the Tigers host Austin Peay in the first of a two-game home-and-home midweek set with the Governors. Memphis will host Austin Peay at 6:30 p.m. on Tues., Apr. 17 before making the trip to Clarksville, Tenn. for a 6:30 p.m. matchup on Wed., Apr. 18.
Memphis swept UAB in C-USA action over the weekend to improve to 22-14. The Tigers have raised their team batting average to .288 behind the swings of seniors Bill Moss (.328), Michael Murray (.326), Adam Amar (.310), Joey Lieberman (.309) and junior K.K. Chalmers (.302). All five regulars have played in at least 34 games and account for 60 percent of the Tigers' run production. Moss and Murray have each banged out 43 hits, while Chalmers leads the team with 34 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. Moss also leads the squad with nine home runs and Lieberman has a team-high 33 RBI.
Opponents hit .277 against Tiger pitchers, who have a collective 5.14 ERA. Brennon Martin will get his first starting nod on Tuesday. Martin has been a pleasant surprise for the U of M coach staff and is 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA in five appearances. He has given up a .341 average to opposing hitters, but has managed to surrender just four earned runs in 11 innings. The Tiger bullpen has been the staff's anchor, yielding a 3.87 ERA. Senior southpaw Dusty Davis has picked up a staff-best five wins out of the `pen, while sophomore Will Hudgens is 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA in 10 outings. Matt Yokley has emerged as the closer, nailing down six saves and leading the squad with 40 strikeouts in just 27.2 innings of work. The Collierville High product is averaging a near-untouchable 13.01 strikeouts per nine innings.
Four of the Tigers' 10 non-conference losses have come via sweeps at the hands of Ohio Valley members Samford and Murray State. The series against Austin Peay will be no easier, as the OVC foe comes into midweek play with a solid 20-14 mark after sweeping Tennessee Tech in a three-game series. The Govs are solid both at the plate and on the hill. As a team, Austin Peay hits .283. Juniors J.B. Gilbert and Will Hogue lead the APSU offense with a .339 averages. Both are tied with Tyler Farrar for the team lead of eight doubles. Hogue is the main run producer, accounting for 51 runs. A Houston High product, Hogue has the team-high 28 runs scored, 23 RBI and six home runs.
On the bump, the Govs have a staff ERA of 3.87 and a .278 opponent's batting average. Tuesday's starter Michael Dunn has been a top option for Head coach Gary McClure. Dunn is 1-0 with a stingy 1.89 ERA and .260 opponent's average. He will make his fourth start of the year in the series opener. Freshman Stephen Huff will toe the rubber in Wednesday's contest in Clarksville. The rookie right hander has seen action in seven games and has 14 strikeouts in 21 innings of work. He has a 7.29 ERA in four starts. Reliever Ben Wilshire has been the called on to shut the door in close contests. In 15 appearances, the senior has locked in six saves. He has only fanned eight, but has limited opposing hitters to a .244 clip at the plate.
Memphis is 25-18 all-time against Austin Peay, but recent years have seen the Govs dominate play in the series. APSU has won each of the last five meetings, including sweeping Memphis in 2005 and 2006. The last time the Tigers defeated the Governors was in 2004 when Memphis won a 5-2 ballgame at AutoZone Park.
