Tuesday, March 20
Columbia, Mo.
6 p.m.
University of Missouri
vs
Arkansas State
No. 25 @Mizzou Baseball Opens Five-Game Homestand with Midweek Series vs. Arkansas State
3/19/2018 5:26:00 PM | Baseball
Tigers and Red Wolves open series Tuesday at 6 p.m. on SEC Network
- After splitting four games vs. ranked opponents last week, No. 25 Mizzou Baseball opens a five-game, week-long homestand Tuesday with a two-game series over Arkansas State. Tuesday's game will be at 6 p.m. on SEC Network and KTGR and Wednesday's game is set for a 4 p.m. first pitch on SEC Network+ and KTGR.
- Mizzou is coming off a 2-2 week after playing four games vs. top-20 opponents last week. Mizzou defeated No. 20 Wichita State, 9-4, Tuesday and then won one of three vs. No. 16 LSU at Alex Box Stadium. Mizzou's 12 runs in the 12-6 win Saturday at the Box are the most LSU has allowed at home in an SEC game since April 22, 2016, vs. Mississippi State (also 12). It was the worst home SEC loss for LSU since April 13, 2014, a 10-4 loss to Arkansas. It was also Mizzou's first-ever win over LSU, a team that has a 52-21-1 record at home since Mizzou joined the league in 2013.
- Mizzou and Arkansas State are meeting for the first time since the 2013 campaign when the Tigers and Red Wolves split a two-game midweek series. Weather forced the two teams to play a doubleheader and Mizzou won the first game, 5-1, behind a strong start from RHP Jace James. Mizzou then dropped the nightcap, 10-3.
- Mizzou leads the all-time series with Arkansas State, 18-8, in 26 career meetings. Before the 2013 season, the last time the two teams met was back in 2002, a two-game series at Taylor Stadium. The series was split with Mizzou winning the first game, 8-3, before dropping the finale, 15-10.
- Mizzou will send junior LHP Tyler LaPlante to the mound Tuesday while head coach Steve Bieser has not announced a starter for Wednesday's game. LaPlante has been brilliant this season in his two starts, including an 8.0-inning performance last Tuesday against No. 20 Wichita State. LaPlante, a junior college transfer from Johnson County CC, shutdown the Shockers, allowing just two runs on three hits over 8.0 innings, striking out five. In his first Division I start against Northeastern (which currently holds the nation's No. 2 rank in the RPI), LaPlante was equally as dominant, tossing 7.0 innings of one-run baseball, surrendering only five hits while striking out five. Both his starts this season have come against RPI top-15 teams (Northeastern at No. 2, Wichita State at No. 12) and he is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 15.0 innings pitched.
- Arkansas State is throwing arguably its top arm Tuesday - junior RHP and former Arkansas pitcher Nate Alberius. After spending 2016 with the Razorbacks, Alberius went to Crowder College and went 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA. In his first season with the Red Wolves, he is 2-0 with a team-leading 1.33 ERA and leads the team in innings pitched (27.0), strikeouts (28) and is limiting batters to a team-best .190 hitting. RHP Zachary Patterson (0-0, 8.53 ERA) is scheduled to be on the mound Wednesday.
- Arkansas State was swept at home last week by Coastal Carolina. A-State lost Friday, 3-1, Saturday, 26-14, and Sunday, 8-3, with all three games being in Jonesboro as it began Sun Belt Conference action.
- Mizzou ranks No. 23 in the RPI rankings this week, one of eight SEC teams ranked in the top 25 of the RPI. Mizzou also checks in at No. 25 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and is receiving votes in the USA Today/Coaches Top-25 poll.
- At 51-28, Mizzou is now 23 games over .500 since head coach Steve Bieser took over the program last season. The last time that Mizzou was that far above .500 over a 79-game span was from Feb. 9, 2007 through March 22, 2008 when Mizzou went 59-20.
- Mizzou continues to pace the SEC while ranking fourth nationally in walks drawn as a team with 127. Mizzou is averaging 6.35 walks per game, which is on pace for 356 walks on the year, which would be the most for a Mizzou team since 2005 (357).
- Mizzou has been exceptional in the field over the last seven games, committing just one error during that span. Mizzou has elevated its fielding percentage from .975 to .982 in that span, the latter of which now ranks 16th nationally and fourth in the SEC. What is even more impressive about Mizzou's fielding percentage is that through 20 games last year, Mizzou had committed 35 errors, 21 more than Mizzou currently has through the first 20 games this season. Mizzou was fielding just .957 at this point a season ago. The .982 clip is proof that Mizzou has shored things up defensively under season-year head coach Steve Bieser.
- Mizzou is one of just four teams nationally to rank in the national top 20 in both runs (14th) and fielding percentage (16th), joining No. 5 Vanderbilt, No. 4 Florida and New Mexico State.
PROJECTED STARTERS
- Tuesday: Junior LHP Tyler LaPlante (2-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. RHP Nate Alberius (2-0, 1.33 ERA)
- Wednesday: TBA vs. RHP Zachary Patterson (0-0, 8.53 ERA)
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ BaseballIn the NOW - Embrace the Opportunity
Monday, February 10
Inside Mizzou Athletics - Talkin' Baseball with Brock Lucas
Monday, February 03
Mizzou vs. LSU Series Highlights
Monday, April 22
Mizzou at Missouri State Highlights
Friday, April 19
