The 3-1 Memphis baseball program won their opening weekend series with Samford last weekend. Following a 19-10 win, on Tuesday, against Mississippi Valley State, at home, this team has continued to play well and gain confidence through success early in the season. Youngstown State comes to FedEx Park Avlon Fogleman Field for a four-game series starting on Friday and concluding on Sunday.
First, we will look at the Penguins as a team and how they have played this season. Then, we will look at who Memphis will start in the opening game, how he has played this season. Take a deeper look at how Memphis has played this season along with some stats and newcomers who have made a impact to this roster in the early season. Lastly, we will look at what is next in this series, when it will be played, and how to watch or listen. Let’s look at Youngstown State and how they have played in 2023.
Youngstown State Penguins
The Penguins, from the Horizon League, travel to Memphis to take on the Tigers. YSU comes in with an 0-4 record so far in the 2023 season. The Penguins have losses to two losses to Illinois and Wake Forest from last weekend’s opening weekend. The losses to Illinois were by scores of 9-8 and 10-5 and the Demon Deacons 9-3 and 18-3.
From the plate, the Penguins as a team are batting .185 with 17 runs, 23 hits, 3 triples, 6 home runs, 17 RBIs, and 44 total bases. The Penguins as a team have a slugging percentage of .355. They have 12 walks, 7 hit by pitch, 27 strikeouts, and a .282 on-base percentage. The Penguins have left 26 runners on base in these first four games.
On the season, first baseman, Padraig O’Shaughnessy has ed the Penguins with 7 hits, 4 runs, 2 home runs, and 14 total bases. He also has a .476 batting average and a .933 slugging average in four games played.
On the mound, as a team, the Penguins have a 13.06 ERA to start the season. They have given up 42 hits, 46 runs, 29 strikeouts, 10 doubles, and 9 home runs in 31 innings pitched in 2023. As a team they have thrown 21 pitchers on the season that batters have accumulated a .326 batting average. The most starts on the season for the Pengiuns is Will Shaffer who is 0-2 giving up 4 hits, 11 runs, 6 walks, 1 home run, and a batting average of .667.
Memphis Tigers
Memphis will start senior left hander Dalton Fowler in game one of this series. Fowler has appeared in the season opener pitching 4.2 innings with 6 strikeouts while allowing 3 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks and a 3.86 ERA with 95 pitches thrown in the 7-4 win last Friday. On the season, the Tiger’s have thrown 21 pitchers on the season and they have a combined ERA of 5.92 on the season. In their 38 innings pitched, Memphis has given up 40 hits, 29 runs, 17 walks, 40 strikeouts, and 3 home runs. As a staff, they have allowed a .270 batting average.
At the plate, Memphis has a combined .325 batting average, scored 45 runs, 50 hits, 13 doubles, 1 triple, 11 home runs, and 98 total bases in 154 at bats. Memphis has a slugging percentage of .636 to start the season, 33 walks, 2 hit by pitches, and 39 strikeouts. Memphis has an on base percentage of .445 and is 9-9 on stolen bases on the season.
To combine with this power from the plate the Tigers have a .963 fielding percentagn. Memphis has 114 put outs, 31 assists, and 6 errors in 2023.
Transferring Impact
Memphis roster includes 18 returners and 18 newcomers between the transfers and freshman. Of these transfers the Tigers have some that have made an immediate impact.
Mississippi State transfer, Brayland Skinner, was 5-12 {.417} from the plate to open the season against Samford. All five of Skinners hits were for extra bases as skinner would hit four doubles with one home run. For these effeots, Skinner was named the AAC Weekly Honor Roll for last weekend. Along with Skinner, is transer Jake Curtiswho is batting .444 which includes a three hit performance and four hit performance so far this season. Anthony Hansen, who came to Memphis from William Jewell College, has smacked three home runs in his first four games in the Blue and Gray.
What is Next?
As mentioned above this will be a four game series. The opening night game will start at 6 pm and be streamed live on ESPN+. On Saturday, Memphis and YSU will play a double header. First pitch for game one is scheduled for noon with game two beginning at 3 pm central. The final game of the series will take place on Sunday and is scheduled for an 11 am first pitch.
The starters for Memphis will be sophomore right hander Dalton Warren, who is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA, 6 Ks, and 2 walks in five innings pitched in game one. In game two Tiger fans will see the first start for redshirt junior Dylan Castro. Castro appeared in 19 innings of relief in 2022 going 3-1, 28 strikeouts, and an ERA of 8.04 in 28 innings of work.
