After coming off a series with the Little Rock Trojans, Memphis (6-10) will travel to Auburn, Alabama, to take on No. 5 Auburn (15-1) on Wednesday.
Memphis started off the series against the Trojans with a win, but they ended up losing the last two games.
After losing three of their last four games, Memphis will aim to upset one of the best teams in the country.
A look at the opponent
Auburn is one of the highest scoring teams in the country, outscoring their opponents 147-56 this season. They start off hot offensively, and they limit opponents early in games.
They possess multiple dangerous batters in their lineup. They currently have two players who are top-five in slugging percentage in the SEC this season.
After going 37-26 last year, Auburn went to the funior college ranks to upgrade their team. With the help of Brendan Venter and Brett Wright, both junior college transfers, Auburn is arguably one of the most dangerous teams in the country.
What to watch
The biggest key to an upset for Memphis will be to neutralize Auburn’s best players with good pitching. If the big hitters for Auburn step up early, it could be a long night for Memphis.
One thing Memphis can view as a positive is the fatigue factor for Auburn. They are coming off their first loss of the season, and they played Monday against Georgia Tech.
Look for Memphis to play this game with a low-scoring strategy. They will try to slow down Auburn’s offense and take their hits when they can get them. They do not want to get into a back and forth with Auburn because scoring is their strong suit.
It is no secret who Auburn’s best players are — Brendan Venter and Brett Wright — so look for the Tigers to make someone else on the team beat them. If they can somehow find a way to stop these two players, it is possible they could pull off the massive upset.
Players to watch
Memphis outfielder Tyler Webb
Webb, one of the senior leaders on the team, leads the Tigers in multiple statistics this season. He is the team’s best hitter and also arguably their best outfielder. Webb is the leader of the team, and the Tigers typically play well if he plays well.
Memphis infielder Kyle Ouellette
The junior is having a strong 2018 campaign. He leads the team in runs batted in, with 12 on the year. He also is batting .316 on the season, good for second on the team. The Johnson City, Tennessee, native has become a staple in the Tigers lineup. A strong outing from him bodes well for the Tigers.
Auburn infielder Brendan Venter
Venter is a junior college transfer from Texas who has significantly boosted Auburn’s batting lineup this season. In two seasons at junior college, Venter had 30 home runs and 138 RBIs and was ranked top-40 in almost every category at the junior college level. In his first season at Auburn, he is leading the team in batting average and total hits.
Auburn catcher Brett Wright
Wright is a first-year junior college transfer for Auburn. He has become one of the best power hitters in the SEC. He leads the team in home runs and slugging percentage and is a threat to make a big play every time he is up to bat. Wright is a key cog in the War Eagles’ attack, and it is imperative Memphis does not let him get hot.
Tyler Webb takes a swing. The Texas native is one of five seniors on the 2018 roster
Outfielder Carlos Williams gets ready to steal third base. The Covington native is one of only five seniors on the 2018 Tigers roster.
