May 3, 2007

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - In a race for its highest Conference USA finish ever, the University of Memphis baseball team will host its second consecutive league series this weekend, as UCF comes to town for a three-game set on Fri., May 4 through Sun., May 6. First pitch for Friday's series opener is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Nat Buring Stadium.

Memphis brings a 27-17 record into the C-USA series after falling to No. 13 Ole Miss 10-2 on Wednesday evening at AutoZone Park. The Tigers are currently third in the league standings with a 9-6 record. Memphis, who has won two of its last three contests, dropped its last home C-USA series to Marshall, 2-1.

The Tiger offense has stepped up its game and is third in the league with a .296 team batting average. Michael Murray leads the team and is second in the league with a .363 average. Bill Moss and Adam Amar are both ranked among the league's top hitters at .331 and .327, respectively. Amar leads the league with a .473 average in conference play. Moss and fellow senior Joey Lieberman are atop the league rankings with 11 home runs each. Lieberman also paces all C-USA performers with a .607 slugging percentage and 47 RBI. Junior K.K. Chalmers again leads the conference in stolen bases, with 24. He is second in the league with 44 runs scored.

UCF comes into the series with a 22-24 overall mark and a 4-11 record in Conference USA play. The Golden Knights are currently the odd man out in the race for a league tournament bid. Despite being just 3-10 on the road, UCF rides the momentum of its first-ever C-USA series sweep, after shocking Tulane last weekend.

Led by Kiko Vazquez and Tyson Auer, UCF hits .278 as a team. They lead the league with 62 stolen bases. Vazquez and Auer are ranked in the league's top-10 in batting average at .344 and .341, respectively. A sophomore, Vazquez hits .309 inside C-USA action. He leads the team and is rated in the conference's top-10 in slugging percentage (.525), on base percentage (.449), RBI (37) and doubles (12). He also has a team-best five home runs. Auer's team-high 61 hits ranks fifth in the league, while his 20 stolen bases is second only to Chalmers. Reigning Conference USA Hitter of the Week Matt Horwath hits .344 with 11 doubles. The senior, who bats .452 in C-USA play, hit for the program's first-ever cycle in last Friday's series opening win over Tulane.

On the mound, UCF staff sits in the middle of the pack with a 5.10 ERA. Opposing teams hit .281 against them with 328 strikeouts--third-most in the league this year. Friday night starter Jaager Good leads the staff and is 10th in the league with a 3.62 ERA. The junior right-hander is 3-4 on the year and has a staff-high 44 strikeouts. No. 2 starter Kyle Sweat is tied for the team lead with four wins. He has posted a 4.29 ERA in his 13 appearances and six starts. Closer Justin Weiss has been a tough guy to face in the latter part of the game. Weiss checks in with a staff-low 1.54 ERA and six saves. He is perfect in four decisions and has held opposing hitters to a .239 clip.

Memphis is 3-0 all-time against UCF. The Tigers and Golden Knights hooked up in the first-ever series last year in Orlando. Memphis played one its most complete all-around series, as the Tigers banged out 19 singles en route to a 20-4 trampling of the Golden Knights. Philip Utley fanned a career-high 10 in a 10-4 win in game two. Ben Grisham struck out five and held UCF to just two unearned runs in six innings to pick up his first collegiate win as Memphis' cruised to an 11-3 win and a series sweep. Memphis pounded out 47 hits and scored 41 runs in the series.

Saturday's contest will be a part of a full day of Tiger athletics as the program invites fans to spend the day at the Park Avenue Campus where they can enjoy a softball doubleheader, a baseball game and a family area that will include a Kidz Kountry petting zoo, a giant moon bounce and a dunk tank. Fans can purchase a wristband at the softball entrance that will grant admission to the family fun area (2-4 p.m.) and the Tiger baseball game with UCF that is set to begin at 4 p.m.

Ticket prices for the entire day's events are $5 for adults, and $3 for senior citizens and kids 7-18 years old. Children six and under as well as U of M students will be admitted free of charge. Season ticket holders and other previously bought individual game ticket holders will receive one wristband per ticket presented. There will be no discounted group tickets available. Ticket tables will be set up at the softball stadium and the baseball stadium.

The moon bounce, petting zoo and dunk tank will be set up in the grassy area between the softball and baseball fields. These events are dependent on the weather and will not be rescheduled if it rains. Proceeds from the dunk tank, which will be staffed by members of the Highland Hundred, will benefit the family of Tiger fullback Stacy Jones. Jones is currently undergoing cancer treatment. Offensive line coach Rick Mallory and Tiger strength and conditioning director Mike Stark will be in the tank between 2-4 p.m.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to Stacy Jones' family can send a check made out to the Highland Hundred to Lynn Parkes, Associate Athletic Director, University of Memphis, 113 Athletic Office Building, Memphis, TN 38152. Please note that the check is specifically for Stacy Jones.

In addition, the Tiger Scholarship Fund has several events planned on Saturday afternoon from 1-3 p.m. With the purchase of a wristband, donors and members of Pouncer's Pals will receive a complimentary BBQ lunch provided by Jimmie and Elizabeth Madden of Event Services. Pouncer's Pals will also enjoy a special meet-and-greet with Pouncer and a magician at 2 p.m. The tent for the luncheon will be set up near the ticket area at the baseball field. Please RSVP for the lunch and the Pouncer's Pals activity to Donna at 901-678-2334 or by e-mail at dlarivir@memphis.edu.