In the midst of a 10-game winning streak and an impressive 14-4 start, the University of Memphis baseball team is off to a blazing start to the 2015 season, but the Tigers still have two more tough tests before American Athletic Conference play kicks off this weekend.
Memphis will play two games against the Arkansas Razorbacks (11-11, 1-5 SEC) this week — a Tuesday game on the road and a Wednesday contest at home at AutoZone Park. Arkansas record isn’t particularly impressive, but the Razorbacks have played a difficult schedule and come away with a 5-1 victory against the nation’s number one team in LSU.
While Arkansas is a difficult opponent, Memphis head coach Daron Schoenrock said that it doesn’t change how the team will prepare.
“You really set your rotation based on the day, rather than the opponent,” Schoenrock said.
Wednesday’s game brings a change to the regular rotation, with Schoenrock planning to start true freshman Colton Hathcock on the mound against the Razorbacks. Schoenrock said he’s been impressed with Hathcock’s performance with the bullpen so far, and thinks the young pitcher’s future is in the starting lineup. Hathcock has appeared in seven games, allowing 10 hits and five earned runs in 12 innings pitched.
The Tigers should be feeling momentum going into this week’s games, with the team on a 10-game winning streak that features series sweeps against Alcorn State, Eastern Illinois and Middle Tennessee State.
Pitching has been a strength of the team throughout the streak. The team has given up an average of only 1.9 runs per game in the last 10 games, taking pressure off of the team’s offense. That’s not to say the offense has been slacking, however — the team is batting in an average of 8.1 runs per contest.
“Probably the most consistent thing (during the win streak) is that we’ve thrown a lot of strikes from the mound,” Schoenrock said. “We’ve gotten really, really consistent starts from all of our starters.”
Two Tiger starters — Connor Alexander and Caleb Wallingford — have ERAs under 2.00 in six games this season, and senior Dylan Toscano isn’t far behind with an ERA of 3.00 in five appearances on the rubber.
Memphis has certainly been off to a hot start in 2015, but it’s not all that different from how the Tigers’ nonconference schedule played out a season ago. Coach Schoenrock’s squad began the 2014 campaign with a 12-2 record before finishing the year on an 18-27 skid.
“The conference is very tough, and usually the (nonconference) schedule is not as tough,” the 10th-year coach said. “This year’s team is better equipped due to our bullpen depth. Our bullpen is built for a longer season.”
The team could also see two players return from injury for the conference slate. Junior Jake Little and Senior Nate Rupiper have each played only three games this season due to injuries, but Schoenrock said that both could return to the field as soon as this weekend. Both players were key hitters for the Tigers a season ago, with each boasting a batting average over .300.
Memphis is set to take on Arkansas at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, and return to the Bluff City for a 5:30 p.m. rematch against the Razorbacks at AutoZone Park Wednesday evening.
