Head coach Dave Anderson and his baseball Tigers will be looking to get back on the winning track tonight at 7 p.m. when Memphis faces Middle Tennessee State at AutoZone Park in the first of a two-game set.
The Tigers (3-6), coming off an 11-3 loss to Southeast Missouri Sunday, dropped three of four contests over the break — including a 12-0 shellacking to then-No. 12 Ole Miss last week — and have lost six of seven since opening the season 2-0.
Even more disappointing for a Tiger offense which has managed just 13 hits in its last three losses is the fact that Memphis will be without centerfielder and lead-off hitter Paul Reuer, who sprained his right ankle in Sunday’s loss. The senior rolled the ankle off the side of the first base bag legging out an infield hit and is listed as day-to-day.
Solid defense and improved pitching will also be key if the Tigers are to turn their early-season misfortunes around. Memphis gave up 18 walks and committed seven errors in its two losses to Southeast Missouri. In its previous seven games, the Tigers had walked just nine batters combined.
Memphis, which is scheduled to play 10 more home games at AutoZone Park this season, will conclude its two game series against Middle Tennessee State (8-4) Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. before beginning a three-game series on the road against Louisville.
The Tigers then return home for a four-game homestand against Vanderbilt and Conference USA foe South Florida.
