The Memphis Tigers {15-11} head into their American Athletic Conference portion of the 2023 schedule as they travel, to New Orleans, to take on Tulane {6-19} for a weekend series. Memphis is coming off a win, 9-5, on March 28th, against Arkansas Pine Bluff to get momentum at a crucial time in the season. We will discuss some stats from a team perspective, some players who are excelling, a little history between these two programs, and when the games with the Green Wave will start. Let’s take a look at some stats thus far from this Memphis program.
Memphis Stats
From The Plate
Memphis is 232/873 {.266} from the plate through their first 26 games. The Tigers, as a team, have hit 43 doubles, 6 triples, 29 home runs, 134 RBIs, and have touched 374 bases. This gives Memphis a slugging percentage of .428. Furthermore, the Tigers have 122 walks, and 212 strikeouts, and have been hit by 14 pitches with an on base percentage of .362. Memphis will need to keep swinging the bats and being active on the base paths in 2023. This is a ptogram that has power at the plate and can make some real noise in the AAC if they get hot!
Who is Hot From The Plate/ Base Path?
There are three Tigers we will discuss who are heating it up from the plate. Anthony Hansen has now safety hit in 21/26 games for Memphis. Hansen also has a team leading .344 batting average, 6 home runs {one in each of the last two games}, and in on base percentage with .473 this season. Anthony has been a huge asset to this program acquired in the transfer portal. Speaking of the portal, that is where our next player came from. Brayland Skinner, who played at Mississippi State in 2022, is burning up the base paths. Skinner has a team-leading 12 stolen bases and is yet to be thrown out stealing this season.
The final player to spotlight from the plate is junior Austin Baskin. Baskin is leading the Tigers in multiple categories this season. He has a total of 31 hits on the season which is tied for the team leading with the above mentioned Hansen. Baskin has been hitting the ball well and to further this point he has 11 multi hit games in his 25 starts.
On The Mound
Of the three areas of discussion, this is the area Memphis will need to improve. As a program in 2023, the Tigers have an earned run average {ERA} of 5.13. Through 230 innings pitched the Tiger staff has allowed 231 hits, and 150 runs with 131 being earned, 99 walks, and 247 strikeouts. Memphis also has 9 saves on the season. Memphis has given up 52 doubles, 4 triples, and 21 home runs and has a .260 batting average against. This staff has 29 wild pitches as well this season. This staff will need to continue to grow and these stats will improve as the season progresses.
Who is throwing heat?
The Tigers have found their man to close teams out. Memphis has a player who is tied for the lead of the nation in a pitching category. Left hander and closer Dalton Kendrick has seven saves coming into this weekends series. In his 23 innings pitched this season, Kendrick has amassed 31 strikeouts and only six walks. Memphis will look to Kendrick to continue his dominance on the mound.
In The Field
Defensively the Tigers have been fairly solid statistically. Memphis has 25 errors, 264 assists, and 690 putouts. These numbers compute to a fielding percentage of .974. With the staff on the mound, this will be vital to continue to remain successful. These starters have a reliable defense behind them they just need to utilize it to their advantage,
Tulane Series. History? When? Where? What Time?
Memphis and Tulane are not strangers in competing on the baseball diamond. Tulane leads the all time record, 68-44, with the Tigers. The Green Wave have dominated as of late by winning four of the last six games in ths series. Last season, the Tigers would defeat the Green Wave twice with both wins coming on the road in New Orleans. Can Memphis get a early conference series win? There will be three games played with the first being on Friday starting at 6 pm with the Saturday game also starting at 6. The final game of the series, on Sunday, will begin at 1 pm.
