The University of Memphis baseball team (9-19, 1-5 AAC) will look to get back a win on Tuesday when they take on No. 3 Ole Miss (25-4, 6-3 AAC) at FedEx Park. This will be the second time these two teams have faced off against each other. Back in February, the Rebels squeaked out an 8-6 victory over the Tigers.
It has been a tough season for the Tigers, as only three wins came in their last ten games. Their pitching staff has struggled, giving up six runs or more in four of those contests. Offensively, they have not fared much better, suffering two shutout losses to Houston, and only scoring one run against Central Florida on Friday.
A look at the opponent
The Rebels have had a successful season thus far. They are 8-2 in their last ten ball games. They have done well against ranked competition during this run, with wins coming against No.5 Arkansas, No.14 Southern Miss, and No. 11 Texas A&M. In their last matchup against Arkansas three players finished with two or more base hits as they defeated the Razorbacks 11-10.
The Rebels have a well-balanced and efficient offensive attack. They currently have six players batting over .300. Three of those six bat over .330 on the season.
What to watch
The Tigers will once again have to have a strong game from their pitchers if they want to pull off an upset Tuesday night. They have yet to win a game when they give up six or more runs. With the many hot bats of the Rebels, it is important for Memphis to keep them in check.
Players to watch
Ole Miss Catcher/Outfielder Thomas Dillard
Dillard is in the midst of a strong season offensively. The Cordova, Tennessee native currently bats .308 on the season. He also has been phenomenal with runners in scoring position, leading the Rebels in RBIs with 27. Dillard also leads the team in home runs and runs scored, and is third in hits. His powerful bat has been a key weapon for them all season long.
Memphis Infielder Cale Hennemann
Hennemann has had a productive season for the Tigers, providing a secondary offensive threat behind their star Tyler Webb. He bats .278 on the season, placing him third on the team. He is also third in hits and has 9 RBIs and a .340 slugging percentage to go along with it. The redshirt junior will likely have to have a big afternoon if the Tigers want to get back on track.
Memphis First baseman Kyle Ouellette
Ouellette is playing well, keying the Tigers attack in the middle of the order. He currently leads the team in homeruns, and RBIs and is second on the team in batting average and hits. A big afternoon from him could be just what the Tigers need to break their losing streak.
Outfielder Carlos Williams gets ready to steal third base. The Covington native is one of only five seniors on the 2018 Tigers roster.
Alex Hicks gets set to pitch. In the 2018 season opener, Hicks allowed only one run on three hits.
