@MizzouBaseball Set for Home Opener Wednesday vs. UAPB
2/29/2016 4:25:00 PM | Baseball
| GAME | LOCATION | DAY // TIME | LIVE STATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Pine-Bluff | Taylor Stadium | Wednesday, March 2 // 4 p.m. | Stats |
Setting the Stage
- Mizzou Baseball, after spending 11 days in Florida, returns to Taylor Stadium for the 2016 home opener Wednesday against Arkansas Pine-Bluff (0-7) at 4 p.m. The game will air live on Mizzou Network on SEC Network+ and also be broadcast over the radio waves on KTGR 103.1 FM/1580 AM with Tex Little and Trevor Coleman on the call.
- Mizzou is currently riding its first five-game winning streak since March 10-17 of last season after a perfect 5-0 week in Florida. Mizzou defeated FIU on the road last Wednesday, 7-6, before earning a four-game series sweep over Hofstra last weekend at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers. It was Mizzou's first four-game series sweep since Feb. 14 of last season when it swept Iona.
- Mizzou leads the all-time series with Arkansas Pine-Bluff, 3-1, after splitting a midweek series at Taylor Stadium last season. UAPB took the first game of the series, 8-3, before Mizzou rallied for a 9-3 win the following day. Prior to last season, the last meeting between the two teams came in 2010 with Mizzou outscoing the Lions, 37-2, over the two games. Mizzou won 9-0 in game one of that series and 28-2 the following day. Below are notable stat lines for current players vs. UAPB:
- SS Ryan Howard - .500, 1 RBI, 1 Run, 2 SB
- OF Trey Harris - .429, 3 Runs, 2 SB
- 1B Zach Lavy - .375, 1 RBI, 2 Runs
- CF Jake Ring - .333, 3 runs SB
- C Jack Klages - .333, 1 RBI, 2B
- Mizzou's freshman trio of Brian Sharp, Connor Brumfield and Ian Nelson was sensational in five games last week, going a combined 22-for-51 (.431) with 12 runs, 17 RBI, 11 walks and five doubles. Sharp also added a win and a save on the mound as he was sensational out of the bullpen as the Tigers' close.
- Brumfield was named SEC Freshman of the Week for his efforts in Florida. Brumfield tallied game-winning RBIs in three of Mizzou's five games last week, including two in one-run contests (Wednesday at FIU and Sunday with his walk-off single in the 10th). He was instrumental in Mizzou's 5-0 week, leading the team in batting (.476), hits (10), RBI (10), doubles (three), slugging and OBP while scoring two runs and drawing four walks. He also hit an unbelievable 7-for-10 with runners in scoring position on the week, tallying three multiple-RBI games and three multiple-hit games, leading the team in both categories as well. He did all of that while hitting in the leadoff spot for all five games on the week. Brumfield had a game-winning, walk-off hit in the bottom of the 10th inning on a 3-2 fastball to give Mizzou a 3-2 win over Hofstra, completing Mizzou's first four-game sweep since Feb. 14 of last season vs. Iona and hit safely in all five Mizzou games last week.
- Through two weeks of play, Mizzou has showed a patient approach at the plate, drawing 42 walks, tied for the second-most in the SEC. Only Vanderbilt (49 walks) has drawn more bases on balls.
- With 11 double plays turned this season, Mizzou leads the SEC in twin killings through two weeks of action. Seven of those 11 double plays have been turned by the middle infield combination of SS Ryan Howard and 2B Ian Nelson.
- Mizzou's dynamic pitching duo of senior RHP Reggie McClain and sophomore RHP Tanner Houck has been nothing short of sensational this season. The two threw back-to-back complete games without an earned run in the Hofstra series, culminating in Houck's complete game, three-hit shutout on Saturday. The two currently rank 1-2 in the SEC in inning pitched, respectively, and first and fourth in ERA, respectively at 0.00 and 0.60. Houck is fourth in the SEC with his 18 strikeouts.
- Starting on Wednesday will be RHP Ryan Lee (0-1, 11.57 ERA). It will be his second start of the season.
Pitching Machup
- TBA vs. Mizzou's Ryan Lee (0-1, 11.57 ERA)
Freshmen Getting It Done
The freshman trio of Brian Sharp, Connor Brumfield and Ian Nelson was sensational in five game last week and we paramount to Mizzou's success. The trio went a combined 22-for-51 (.431) with 12 runs, 17 RBI, 11 walks and five doubles over the five games. Sharp also added a win and a save on the mound as he was sensational out of the bullpen as the Tigers' closer, tossing 5.1 innings of shutout baseball, pitching Mizzou out of several big jams. In the opening weekend, the trio was just 2-for-21 with two runs and three walks as their production was a huge reason for Mizzou's five wins last week.
Dynamic Duo
Mizzou's top two pitchers - Reggie McClain and Tanner Houck are arguably the top 1-2 punch in any pitching rotation in the SEC, which makes them one of most feared in the nation. So far this season, the duo is a combined 4-0 with a combined 0.28 ERA in 32.0 innings, allowing just 23 hits and four walks with 28 strikeouts. Since each came to Mizzou last season, they have pitched more innings than any than any duo in the SEC (233.2 IP) and have a combined 3.08 ERA and a combined 199-35 strikeout-walk ratio. They are a combined 19-12 in wins and losses as well. Last weekend, the two threw back-to-back complete games without allowing and earned run while surrendering just 12 hits while striking out 15.
Quick Hits
- Mizzou leads the SEC with 11 double plays so far this season. Of the 11 double plays, seven have been inning-ending twin killings. Seven of the 11 have come from come from the middle infield duo of SS Ryan Howard and 2B Ian Nelson.
- After two weeks of play, Mizzou has showed a patient approach at the plate, drawing 42 walks, the second-most in the SEC. Only Vanderbilt (49 walks) has walked more than Mizzou so far this season.
- For the first time in his career, senior Austin Tribby took the mound as a starter last Saturday vs. Hofstra. He went a career-best 6.0 innings and struck out a career-best eight. It was his first start in 67 career appearances.
- Mizzou stole eight bases against Seton Hall in the second game of the season, the most by a Tiger team since 2011 against Le Moyne and just two off of the school record.
Up Next
Mizzou will host its first weekend series of 2016 beginning Friday against UIC. It will be a four-game set with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Tex Little and Trevor Coleman will have the call on KTGR and the Friday and Sunday games will stream live on the Watch ESPN App courtesy of SEC Network+. For all the latest on Mizzou Baseball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter @MizzouBaseball.
