May 5, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis and Vanderbilt University baseball teams will renew an old in-state rivalry on Tuesday, May 6, when the two meet for the first time since the 2001 season. Both participants in the 2007 NCAA Nashville Regional, the Tigers will host the Commodores at Pringles Park, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.

Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 • 7:05 p.m.
Vanderbilt - So., RHP, Drew Hayes (1-0, 3.55 ERA)
Memphis - So., LHP, Brennon Martin (4-2, 4.89 ERA)

Quick Hitters
• Senior K.K. Chalmers is just two games shy of Memphis's all-time games played record. Adam Amar currently holds the record with 217 games played from 2004-08.
• Chalmers took over second place on the Conference USA all-time stolen base record list with his 108th career stolen base over the weekend.
• Tiger Head Coach Daron Schoenrock needs just three wins to reach the 100-win milestone as the Memphis skipper.

About the Tigers
Memphis is currently 16-31 after losing its fifth straight and 12th one-run game in a 5-4 decision at Houston on Sunday. Offensively, the team hits a combined .248, with 20 home runs. Trey Wiedman leads the charge, and after a four-hit day on Sunday, has crept up to the .300 average. He also leads the team with six homers and 35 RBI. Freshman continues to be the toughest out in the Memphis lineup. The Knoxville, Tenn., native hits .298 and leads the team in runs (35), while ranking second in hits (50), doubles (9) and stolen bases (12).

The pitching numbers have been elevated as the Tigers have played a tough a 10-game stretch in the last two-plus weeks. The pitching corps have held down a 5.62 ERA, with 370 strikeouts. That number is just 15 off of the 2006 pace of 290 which ranks as the fifth-most in Memphis baseball history. Left hander Brennon Martin will toe the rubber for his 10th appearance and sixth start of the year. He is 4-2, with a 4.89 ERA after falling to No. 25 Ole Miss last Tuesday. Neil Schenk remains the staff's ERA leader, checking in with a 3.21 clip in 17 outings.

Scouting the Commodores
Also a young team, Vanderbilt's roster showcases 18 freshmen and five sophomores. The Commodores bring a 34-13 mark into the midweek contest. They have been on a tear as of late, winning 15 of the last 18, including sweeping Tennessee in a road SEC series over the weekend.

Despite its youth, Vanderbilt is led offensively by experienced veterans. Its top five hitters are upperclassmen. Senior David Macias is tops on the team with a sizzling .371 average, while senior Alex Feinberg and junior Ryan Flaherty hit .331 and .325, respectively. Seniors Dominic de la Osa and She Robin both hit .317. Macias has a mind-boggling 75 hits to lead the team, while Flaherty provides the power with 12 homers. Flaherty also paces the Commodores with 50 RBI. Each of Vandy's top six hitters have 10 or more doubles, led by sophomore Andrew Giobbi's 17. de la Osa leads the running game with 22 stolen bags.

On the hill is where Vanderbilt's youth shined. The Commodores' 14-man pitching staff has just three juniors and three sophomores. On a staff that yields a 4.26 ERA, eight of its arms are rookies. Freshman Caleb Cotham leads the staff with a 3.64 ERA and seven wins in 10 starts. Cotham has 71 strikeouts and hold opposing hitters to a .254 average. He is joined by junior Nick Christiani, who also has a 3.64 ERA. Ace Mike Minor leads the team in strikeouts with 82 in 78.2 innings. Freshmen Russell Brewer and Chase Reid are the top options out of the bullpen, working in 18 and 17 outings, respectively. Brewer (3-0) has a 2.19 ERA with 40 K's, while Reid (4-0) is 36 strikeouts to go with a 2.90 ERA.

All-Time Series vs. Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt holds the lead in the all-time series, 26-18. In the series that dates all the way back to the 1933 season, the tilt between the two schools was an annual one from 1980-2001. During that stretch, the only years that Memphis and Vanderbilt did not play was in 1991 and 1998. Since 1990, Memphis is 7-3 in 10 overall meetings. However, from 2002-2007 the teams did not play. Vanderbilt won the last game between the in-state foes, 10-6 in Nashville back in the 2001 season. Both were set to play in the winner's bracket of the 2007 NCAA Nashville Regional in June 2007. But Memphis was dropped to the loser's bracket by Michigan, while Vandy eked out a win over Austin Peay.

Last Time vs. Vandy
Vanderbilt 10, Memphis 6
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Vanderbilt struck for five runs in the first inning and two more in the second to take command of the game, 7-1, and Memphis was never able to recover as the Commodores raced to a 10-6 win in Nashville.

Jay Fik and Rickey Clinton both homered for the Tigers and Paul Reuer added three hits, but the Tigers could get no closer than the final score after the early outburst by Vandy.

Jarod Wilson took the loss on the hill for the Tigers, despite striking out six in four innings of work. He gave up seven hits and was hurt by errors that resulted in a pair of unearned runs. He also walked four.

Last Time Out
Houston 5, Memphis 4
HOUSTON -- Memphis pitchers held Houston to just four hits, while its offense banged out 10. However, five errors and a pair of eighth-inning wild pitches allowed the Cougars to claw past the Tigers, 5-4, in Sunday's series finale at Cougar Field.

The Tigers carried a 4-3 lead into the bottom the eighth inning, but were unable to hold on to the lead as Jake Stewart started a two-run rally with a single to shallow right centerfield. A sacrifice bunt by Bryan Pounds moved him over to second and Memphis elected to walk Jimmy Cesario to keep the double play in order. Memphis closer Matt Yokley induced a fielder's choice out by Ryan Lormand, but then unleashed a pair of sliders that both skipped away from catcher Chris Kirkland. Stewart scored the game-tying run on the first, and Lormand came in with the game-winner on the second.

Memphis was led by Trey Wiedman, who was a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBI at the plate. Chris Newsom had a career day, banging out three hits.

Brach Davis' outing was phenomenal, but the southpaw's defense let him down. He gave up just two hits in 4.2 innings and added five strikeouts. Memphis's defensive did not help its cause, committing five errors on the afternoon.