May 8, 2007

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - With a 29-18 mark, Head Coach Daron Schoenrock and the University of Memphis baseball team look to post back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first since the 1994 and 1995 seasons. The Tigers will get their first opportunity at the feat today when they make the trip to Jonesboro, Ark., to take on Arkansas State in the first game of a two game home-and-home midweek set with the Indians. First pitch for tonight's contest is slated for 6:30 p.m. Memphis will return to Nat Buring Stadium tomorrow to wrap up the series with A-State at 6:30 p.m.

The Tigers come into the midweek riding the momentum of their fourth Conference USA series win. After falling to UCF on Friday night, Memphis bounced back in fine fashion to take the final two games of the series.

Led by Michael Murray's league-leading .380 average, the Tigers have surged to the front of the C-USA hitting statistics with a .297 team batting average. Six of the Tigers current starting nine are hitting over .300, including reigning C-USA batting champ Adam Amar. Amar, who slumped through the early portion of the schedule, had recovered to hit .327 with 28 RBI. Already the Tigers' all-time hits leader, Amar is just one RBI shy of the all-time record at Memphis, set by Chris Marable from 1986-89. The senior is trailed by classmates Bill Moss and Joey Lieberman. Rated as one of the top middle infielders in the country, Moss bats .326 with 10 doubles, 11 homers and 44 RBI. Lieberman is one of the top power hitters in Conference USA. He hits .324 and paces all league hitters with 12 homers and 49 RBI.

Tuesday's starter, Brennon Martin comes into the contest at 1-1 with a 5.92 ERA. He took his first loss last Wednesday in the Tigers' 10-2 loss to No. 13 Ole Miss. Matt Yokley has anchored the bullpen and is tied for the program's single-season record with eight saves. The sophomore out of Collierville is averaging an astounding 12.32 strikeouts per nine innings of work.

Arkansas State (19-28) has not played since April 29, when it salvaged a 4-2 win in the Sun Belt series finale versus Louisiana-Lafayette. The Indians have dropped five of the last six outings.

Ryan Hudgins leads the ASU offensive attack with a .337 average, while Josh Yates follows at .328. Hudgins has a team-best 14 doubles and 36 RBI. He also has nine homers and two triples. Yates has belted 10 home runs and driven in 30. A-State hits .275 as a team.

ASU's pitching staff has a combined 5.54 ERA with 332 strikeouts. Nick Lambert leads the staff in wins with a 5-2 record, T.J Brewer's 78 strikeouts and .249 opponent's batting average has resulted in a staff-best 2.49 ERA. Tuesday starter Jett Jones will be making his ninth start of the year and is 1-3 with a 5.54 ERA. He has fanned 46 in 52 innings of action and hold opposing hitters to a .289 clip.

The Indians have committed 92 errors for a .950 fielding percentage.