Mizzou’s Sikkema, Misner Named Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-Americans
6/7/2017 9:49:00 AM | Baseball
Sikkema tied Mizzou freshman record with eight wins; Misner had more HRs than any Tiger freshman since 1997
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball LHP T.J. Sikkema (DeWitt, Iowa) and OF Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) were each named Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-Americans, announced Wednesday by the national publication. This marks the first time since 1996 that Mizzou has had multiple freshman All-Americans in the same season. Sikkema and Misner are the first Mizzou players to earn Freshman All-America distinction since Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) in 2015.
Sikkema was an All-SEC Freshman Team selection and two-time SEC Freshman of the Week after putting together a sensational 2017 season. He went 8-2 on the mound with four saves as his eight wins are tied for the most ever by a Mizzou true freshman (Houck had eight in 2015, Kyle Gibson had eight in 2007). He also added a team-high four saves. Following the SEC Tournament, Sikkema finished ranked sixth in the SEC in wins while leading the league in hits allowed per nine innings (5.90) and WHIP (0.88). His 0.88 WHIP was ninth nationally and second among all freshmen in the nation. His 5.90 hits per nine mark ranked 18th nationally and third among all freshmen. He also ranked eighth in the SEC in ERA and seventh among all freshmen nationally.
After allowing an earned run before collecting an out in his first collegiate appearance, Sikkema settled in and ran off a streak of 29.2 innings without an earned run from Feb. 18-March 25, spanning nine appearances. In those 29.2 innings, he struck out 48 batters and walked just seven while scattering only 16 hits, with only two going for extra-bases. He had a win or save in eight of those nine appearances (5-0, three saves).
SIKKEMA ?????
— #MizzouBaseball (@MizzouBaseball) May 22, 2017
He's #Mizzou's first Freshman All-SEC honoree since 2015. #MIZ #C2E ??? pic.twitter.com/vmvmTV447S
Misner was also sensational as one of Mizzou's top offensive players all season, turning in one of the best seasons for a Mizzou true freshman hitter in recent memory. He hit seven homers, the most home runs by a Mizzou freshman since Trevor Coleman in 2007. His .282 average on the year was the best for a Mizzou freshman since Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) hit .294 in 2015 while he joined Chris Cornelius (St. Louis, Mo.) as the first Mizzou freshman to drive in more than 30 runs in a season since 2010. He added 12 doubles, one triple and seven homers while driving in 34 runs and scoring 39. Stole a team-high 17 bases on the year, a mark that ranked fourth in the SEC following the SEC Tournament.
.@KameronMisner97 is ????????#Mizzou has won 10 in a row, matches best start since 1985 after the walk-off homer#MIZ #C2E ??? pic.twitter.com/huXQcBvzOV
— #MizzouBaseball (@MizzouBaseball) March 5, 2017
For all the latest on Mizzou Baseball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter @MizzouBaseball and like the team on Facebook and Instagram (Missouri Baseball).
