Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Memphis Set for AAC Tournament, Opens with UCF
May 23, 2022 | Baseball
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Fresh off of back-to-back conference series wins on the road, the Memphis Tigers (25-27, 9-15) are set to begin the AAC Tournament Tuesday at 3 p.m. vs. the UCF Knights (32-23, 14-10). Also on the same side of the bracket are the Houston Cougars (34-22, 13-11) and Wichita State Shockers (21-34, 9-15). The Tigers dropped two of three to all three teams earlier this season but picked up a win in the series opener all three times. With a win Tuesday, the Tigers would play the winner of Houston/Wichita State Thursday, while a loss would set up an elimination game Wednesday vs. the loser of the Houston/Wichita State matchup.
Memphis vs. UCF
Tuesday, May 24 – 3 p.m. (ESPN+)
Location: Clearwater, Fla.
Venue: BayCare Ballpark
Twitter Updates: @MemphisBaseball
Stats | Listen | Watch
Memphis is 25-29 all-time vs. UCF, which includes a home series loss earlier this season. Memphis won the opener 6-1 but was outscored 28-9 over the final two games of the set. The Knights enter the conference tournament off of a series loss at Cincinnati, with a win in the opener followed by a 15-5 loss and 6-5 defeat to the Bearcats. The Knights were the only team two have two pitchers named First Team All-AAC, as RHP Connor Staine (4-1, 1.54) and RHP Ben Vespi (6-3, 3.20) earned that honor. C Andrew Sundean (.330/5/31) and OF Gephry Pena (.329/7/33) were both named Second Team All-AAC.
The Tigers are 26-55 all-time vs. Houston and fell in a road series to the Cougars earlier this season. Memphis rallied from an early 6-0 deficit to win the opener 11-9 but fell 5-4 and 7-5 in the final two games of the series. The Cougars enter the conference tournament on a six-game losing streak, as they were swept by #21 East Carolina to end the season, fell in their final midweek game vs. Rice, and dropped the final two games of their series vs. UCF. C Anthony Tulimero (.324/3/31) and 1B Ryan Hernandez (.297/12/51) were named First Team All-AAC, while RHP Ben Sears (6-3, 2.95, 12 SV), SS Ian McMillan (.296/8/35), and UTL Brandon Uhse (.285/8/46) were named to the Second Team All-Conference.
Memphis dropped two of three at home to Wichita State earlier this season and is 4-9 all-time vs. the Shockers. Like they did against UCF and Houston, Memphis won the opener (7-6), but fell in the final two games, as Wichita State outscored the Tigers 24-12 over the final two games of the series. The Shockers dropped a series at South Florida to end the season but had won four straight games prior to the series vs. the Bulls. 2B Brock Rodden (.335/16/45) was named the AAC Newcomer Position Player of the Year and First Team All-AAC. RHP Cameron Bye (5-1, 3.03) and OF Chuck Ingram (.309/14/51) joined Rodden with First Team All-AAC honors.
Memphis vs. UCF
Tuesday, May 24 – 3 p.m. (ESPN+)
Location: Clearwater, Fla.
Venue: BayCare Ballpark
Twitter Updates: @MemphisBaseball
Stats | Listen | Watch
Memphis is 25-29 all-time vs. UCF, which includes a home series loss earlier this season. Memphis won the opener 6-1 but was outscored 28-9 over the final two games of the set. The Knights enter the conference tournament off of a series loss at Cincinnati, with a win in the opener followed by a 15-5 loss and 6-5 defeat to the Bearcats. The Knights were the only team two have two pitchers named First Team All-AAC, as RHP Connor Staine (4-1, 1.54) and RHP Ben Vespi (6-3, 3.20) earned that honor. C Andrew Sundean (.330/5/31) and OF Gephry Pena (.329/7/33) were both named Second Team All-AAC.
The Tigers are 26-55 all-time vs. Houston and fell in a road series to the Cougars earlier this season. Memphis rallied from an early 6-0 deficit to win the opener 11-9 but fell 5-4 and 7-5 in the final two games of the series. The Cougars enter the conference tournament on a six-game losing streak, as they were swept by #21 East Carolina to end the season, fell in their final midweek game vs. Rice, and dropped the final two games of their series vs. UCF. C Anthony Tulimero (.324/3/31) and 1B Ryan Hernandez (.297/12/51) were named First Team All-AAC, while RHP Ben Sears (6-3, 2.95, 12 SV), SS Ian McMillan (.296/8/35), and UTL Brandon Uhse (.285/8/46) were named to the Second Team All-Conference.
Memphis dropped two of three at home to Wichita State earlier this season and is 4-9 all-time vs. the Shockers. Like they did against UCF and Houston, Memphis won the opener (7-6), but fell in the final two games, as Wichita State outscored the Tigers 24-12 over the final two games of the series. The Shockers dropped a series at South Florida to end the season but had won four straight games prior to the series vs. the Bulls. 2B Brock Rodden (.335/16/45) was named the AAC Newcomer Position Player of the Year and First Team All-AAC. RHP Cameron Bye (5-1, 3.03) and OF Chuck Ingram (.309/14/51) joined Rodden with First Team All-AAC honors.