Tuesday, April 17
Columbia, Mo.
4 p.m.
University of Missouri
vs
Chicago State
@MizzouBaseball Begins Five-Game Homestand Tuesday vs. Chicago State
4/16/2018 4:52:00 PM | Baseball
First pitch is at 4:30 p.m. (CT) on SEC Network+
- Mizzou Baseball opens a five-game homestand Tuesday as it welcomes Chicago State for a single game at 4:30 p.m. on SEC Network+ with Nate Gatter and Tim Jamieson on the call. The game will also be on KTGR in the Mid-Missouri area with Tex Little and Matt Michaels on the call.
- Mizzou is coming off a tough week, going 1-3 in four games against ranked opponents.
- The week got off to a good start as Mizzou went down to Springfield, Mo., and defeated No. 18 Missouri State, 8-6, scoring six of the eight runs with two outs, including three in the seventh inning, just after Missouri State took a 6-5 lead.
- Mizzou then was swept at No. 1 Florida over the weekend, falling 3-1 Friday night before dropping both games of a Saturday doubleheader, 10-2 and 7-2, as the Sunday game was moved to Saturday due to storms forecast for the area.
- Mizzou was in both games of the doubleheader as big innings late sank the Tigers. Mizzou was down 3-2 heading to the bottom of the seventh in game one, but Florida scored six runs in the seventh inning to put the game away. In the nightcap, Mizzou tied the game at 2-2 with a two-run double by Zach Hanna in the sixth inning, but Florida scored one in the bottom of that frame and added five in the eighth to put the game away. Florida scored in the next half inning following every half inning that Mizzou scored in over the weekend.
- Mizzou has lost back-to-back games for the first time this season following the sweep at the hands of the Gators. Mizzou had been 9-0 following a loss this season before the Florida series.
- Mizzou and Chicago State are meeting for the sixth time in the history of the two programs. The series dates back to 2004 when Mizzou claimed a weekend series sweep with wins of 19-2, 8-1 and 21-1. Mizzou then won, 6-3, in 2014 and claimed last year's meeting, 7-6, in 13 innings.
- Junior OF Zach Hanna had a huge week offensively for Mizzou last week. He hit .417 with (5-for-12) with four runs, two doubles, two homers and seven RBI, all against ranked teams on the road. Tuesday vs. Missouri State, he had a big go-ahead two-run single with two outs in the first inning and added a solo homer, driving in three. He was also hit by a pitch with two outs to spark the seventh inning rally that helped Mizzou win, 8-6. He was 3-for-9 vs. Florida with a run, a homer and a team-high four RBI, driving in four of the Tigers' five runs in the series.
- Mizzou will send junior RHP Brian Sharp to the mound Tuesday. On the year, he is 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA over 16.0 innings pitched. This will be his second start of the season and first since Feb. 21 when Mizzou downed then No. 24-ranked Miami in Coral Gables, Fla. Sharp was sensational in that game, allowing just four hits and zero walks over 5.0 shutout innings while striking out a career-high eight. Sharp started Mizzou's game at Western Illinois on March 28, but that game was cancelled after 1.5 innings due to poor field conditions. Sharp will be making his first appearance since April 4 Tuesday.
- Chicago State has not announced a starter for Tuesday.
- Mizzou has been very good at home this season, posting a 15-3 mark at Taylor Stadium. Against non-conference competition, Mizzou is a perfect 12-0 at home this season and has won its last 14 home non-conference games. The last home non-conference loss for Mizzou came on April 18, 2017, when it dropped a 5-3 decision to Missouri State. Mizzou is 26-2 at home against non-conference teams under second-year head coach Steve Bieser.
- Mizzou has committed zero errors in 21 of 36 games this season (58.3 percent), which is five more than it had all of last season. In fact, we looked all the way back to 2003 and could not find a single season during which Mizzou played more than 20 errorless games. Keep in mind, Mizzou has 18 games remaining on its regular season schedule. Mizzou is seventh nationally in fielding percentage after finishing ranked 194th in that category a year ago, marking the largest turn-around in that category nationally this season.
- Mizzou is one of just three teams in the nation to rank in the top-20 nationally in both fielding percentage (seventh at .983) and ERA (17th at 3.17).
- The phenomenal pitching and defense have led to Mizzou being one of the nation's elite schools when it comes to keeping the opponent off the scoreboard. Mizzou is allowing just 3.44 runs per game this season, ninth-best nationally and second in the SEC behind only top-ranked Florida. Mizzou is fifth nationally with six shutouts this season.
- Mizzou also ranks in the top-25 in several pitching categories, including 13th in WHIP (1.21), 14th in strikeout-walk ratio (2.97) and 23rd in strikeouts per nine (9.6).
PROJECTED STARTERS
- Tuesday: Junior RHP Brian Sharp (2-0, 1.12 ERA) vs. TBD
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
INF/C
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