March 2, 2000
It's only the second week of the Big 12 Conference season, but this weekend's three-game set in Columbia between the Missouri Tigers (8-5, 2-1) and the highly ranked Texas Longhorns (14-3, 3-0) should be a doozy as the two clubs jockey for the early advantage in the league race. Texas is ranked No. 4 by Collegiate Baseball and No. 8 by Baseball America. The Longhorns have won six straight games, including a 8-7 decision over Houston on Tuesday night. Houston is ranked fifth this week by Collegiate Baseball and third by Baseball America. Missouri enters the series with a three-game winning streak - its longest of the season - and the Tigers have won four of their last five games. In those five games, Mizzou has scored 56 runs (11.2 runs per game), and compiled a team batting average of .369 (72-of-195). In the season's first eight games, MU tallied 48 runs (6.0) and hit .237.
Series Record
Mizzou leads Texas, 8-7 overall, and 2-1 in Columbia (1998). Since the advent of the Big 12 Conference in 1997, the series is tied, 5-5. Last year, Mizzou was swept by the Texas Longhorns, in Austin, 9-6, 14-2 and 14-2 in just MU's fifth, sixth and seventh games of the season - and the Tigers' first games against Division I opponents. In Oklahoma City, though, at the Big 12 Tournament, the Tigers exacted some revenge. In a 11-inning elimination game, one day after Mizzou had sent the Texas Tech Red Raiders packing 8-7 in 12 innings, Missouri eliminated the Longhorns, 5-4.
Missouri's Pitching Rotation
? Texas - Jon Harris, 6-1, 192, Jr., RHP, KC - 1-0, 5.02 ERA, 16 Ks vs. 5 walks so far in 2000. ? Texas - Logan Dale, 6-5, 219, Jr., RHP, KC - 1-2, 5.82 ERA, leads MU with 21.2 innings. ? Texas - tba
Last Weekend
Missouri got off on the right foot in the Big 12 Conference race, taking two-out-of-three games from Texas Tech, at Dan Law Field in Lubbock. It was the first time in the short history of the league that Mizzou had taken a three-game series from Texas Tech. The Tigers won the opener in dramatic fashion, 16-14, on a two-run home run in the 10th inning by Nick Wilfong. It was his second homer of the day and the fourth for the Tigers, who had a season-high 19 hits. Ryan Stegall earned the victory, pitching the ninth and 10th innings. A seven-run seventh inning doomed the Tigers to a 11-6 defeat on Saturday, a game MU led until Tech's game-winning rally. But the Tigers came back on Sunday, scratching across a run in the 8th inning to claim a 6-5 victory. Reliever Matt Hobbs got his first Tiger win and Stegall notched his third save of the young season.
Missouri Coach Tim Jamieson
Head Coach Tim Jamieson has firmly established himself as one the top young coaches in all of college baseball. In his sixth year, T.J. has led Missouri to a 170-122 record. That mark includes three postseason conference tournaments, a trip to the NCAA Tournament, and a regular-season Big Eight title. Jamieson's Tigers are 151-88 since 1996, and have won at least 30 games the last four seasons.
Bullpen Still Aids Tiger Cause
Head Coach Tim Jamieson and pitching coach Chal Fanning have used their bullpen for a total of 51 innings so far in 2000. The MU relievers were instrumental in Mizzou's series win at Texas Tech, earning both victories and a save. On Wednesday against Western Illinois, five of the six relievers used by Coach Tim Jamieson didn't allow a hit. Drew Endicott's outing on Sunday was most important after Pete Sansone went out in the second inning with his hand injury. Endicott threw 5.1 innings and allowed just three runs, keeping the Tigers in the game until they were able to take the lead in the eighth inning. Mizzou's bullpen brigade has posted a 4.05 earned run average while allowing 46 hits and 31 runs (23 earned), with 56 strikeouts and 34 walks.
Sansone's Status Uncertain
It remains to be seen whether or not right-handed pitcher Pete Sansone, who started Game 3 at Texas Tech, gets the call for Sunday's game. He took a line drive off of his right hand on Sunday. X-rays on his ring and pinkie fingers proved to be negative and he tossed one scoreless inning on Wednesday proved to be negative and he tossed one scoreless inning on Wednesday vs. Western Illinois. But he still has soreness and some swelling. Sansone is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA - best of the Tiger starters.
Tingler Takes The Lead
Pesky freshman Jayce Tingler is making a serious bid to take over the leadoff spot in the Missouri lineup. In eight games (four starts) he's hitting a team-best .471, with an on-base percentage of .625. And he leads Mizzou with four stolen bases (in four attempts). Entering the Texas series, he's reached base in 11-of-12 at bats - including a streak of nine straight spanning the final Texas Tech contest and both games against Western Illinois. In the two mid-week games against the Leathernecks, Tingler was 6-for-8 (.750), with five runs scored and three stolen bases. He's seen time this season in both left and center fields.
Stegall Sets Record For RBIs In One Inning
Sophomore shortstop Ryan Stegall set a Missouri school and Big 12 Conference record on Wednesday by driving in six runs in the first inning. The old conference mark was five by Iowa State's Matt Nordby against Northern Iowa last season. His first time at bat, he hit a three-run home run to right-center field. As MU batted around (the Tigers sent 14 men to the plate in the inning), Stegall came up again with the bases loaded and cleared them with a 3-run double. Stegall went 9-for-15 (.600) in last weekend's series at Texas Tech, with three doubles and a triple. He's hit safely in 10 of Mizzou's 13 games this season, and in the last five games is 12-for-24. On the mound, Stegall is second in the Big 12 with three saves. He's had only one rocking outing - last Friday at Tech when he surrendered six runs in the ninth inning. But he came back and set the Red Raiders down in the 10th to earn the victory and also got a save in Game 3. Stegall has made nine career relief appearances and has been scored on just once.
Brandes Is Mizzou's Top Newcomer
Third baseman Landon Brandes has made a quick impact on the MU baseball program since transferring from Maplewoods Community College in Kansas City. He enters the Texas series riding a six-game hitting streak, and period during which he's 13-for-26 (.500) with 10 RBI. He's tied for the team lead in home runs (3) and RBI (16).
Wilfong Had Power Surge Last Week
Junior centerfielder Nick Wilfong hit three home runs last week - one against Lincoln University and two in MU's 16-14 win to open the Texas Tech series. The second was a two-run shot in the 10th inning that won the game. Against the Red Raiders, Wilfong was 7-for-12 (.583) with a double, triple, two home runs, four RBI and six runs. On Wednesday, Wilfong DH'd for the first time this season and was 2-for-4 with two RBI.
A Pair Of Six-Packs For J.R. Warner
Junior outfielder J.R. Warner likes to do things in a big way. He is tied for the team lead with six multiple hit games this season - including a 5-for-5 day against Centenary - and leads the club with six multiple RBI games. In fact, all 16 of his RBIs on the season came in those six games. Since the Centenary game, Warner has enjoyed a seven-game stretch in which he's hit at a .467 clip (14-for-30).
Double (Play) Trouble
The Missouri Tigers have hit into 20 double plays so far in 2000, while turning only four themselves.
Tigers ... Quickly
Missouri leads the Big 12 Conference in defense, with a team fielding percentage of .971 ... Seven of Missouri's 13 games have been decided by two runs or less. The Tigers are 3-1 in one-run games and 1-2 in two-run games ... Catcher Ryan Pickett was honored MU's basketball game against Oklahoma State as one of Mizzou's three Bank of America Community Champions ... Missouri went 3-1 on its trip to Natchitoches, La., earlier this month, beating Nicholls State (3-2), Northwestern State (2-1) and Centenary (10-2) and losing to Arkansas-Little Rock (9-3). The Tigers rode their pitching and some timely hitting to the three wins. MU opponents hit just .160 against the Tigers, who posted a team ERA on the trip of 2.50. Missouri pitchers rolled up 33 strikeouts against 17 walks. Senior first baseman Mike Rallo is tied for seventh place in Missouri history with 28 career home runs, but he's yet to hit one this season, and in fact, is still looking for his first extra-base hit. Rallo has a five-game hitting streak going into this weekend's games, and has hit .409 in that span.
Scouting The Longhorns
Coach Augie Garrido's (6-6 lifetime vs. Mizzou, 5-5 while at Texas) fourth Longhorn ballclub has relied on the Big 12's best pitching staff so far in 2000. Texas has a team ERA of 2.34, with 118 strikeouts and just 39 walks. Texas will send junior righthander Beau Hale (2-1, 3.28 ERA) to the mound on Friday. Garrido hasn't named his Saturday-Sunday starters but expect them to come from this group: junior lefty Phil Seibel (4-0, 1.57 ERA). senior southpaw D.J. Jones (4-2, 2.48 ERA), and sophomore righthander Ryan France could also be a candidate (1-0, 1.17 ERA). The Longhorns are hitting .282 as a team, led by outfielder Ben Emond (.483) and second baseman Tommy Nicholson (.424). Texas has hit only five home runs, but three of those have been by sophomore first baseman Jeff Ontiveros. Shortstop Todd West has seven of Texas' 25 stolen bases. Texas opened league play at home last weekend, and swept the last-place Iowa State Cyclones 7-1, 13-5 and 4-0. On Tuesday, Texas beat highly ranked Houston, 8-7, giving the Longhorns three wins over Houston this season. Two weeks ago, Texas split a two-game set at Stanford, beating the Cardinal 3-2 and dropping a 8-2 decision.
Next For Mizzou
After this weekend's series against Texas, the Tigers make a quick trip to Cape Girardeau on Wed., March 8, to take on Southeast Missouri State at Capaha Park. Game time is 3 p.m. Lefty Ralph McCasland (1-1) is the likely Tiger pitcher. Then it's back home for eight straight games. Missouri hosts Oklahoma State on March 10-11-12, Arkansas State on March 14-15 and Bowling Green State on March
Then it's back home for eight straight games. Missouri hosts Oklahoma State on March 10-11-12, Arkansas State on March 14-15 and Bowling Green State on March 17-18-19.
Baylor Series, Stadium Dedication Weekend Will Be Televised
Regional Sports Networks, LLC., announced on Tuesday the debut of its new television network COLLEGE SPORTS Southwest to be available to cable systems in seven contiguous states (Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado, Iowa), beginning April 1, 2000. The all-college sports programming format of the new network will be similar to the programming of COLLEGE SPORTS Southeast, however COLLEGE SPORTS Southwest will cater to the institutions of the Big 12 Conference. "We greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with and for the Big 12 and look forward to creating a television network that can aggressively promote the Conference," said Kirk Wood, CEO of Regional Sports Networks, LLC. COLLEGE SPORTS Southwest will make its debut on Cox Cable affiliates reaching 635,306 households in a five-state region to include: Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. The service is available to all cable systems within the region. COLLEGE SPORTS Southwest is also working to clear additional cable affiliates throughout the area. The network also is working to add affiliates in Iowa and Colorado to extend coverage for these packages. "This is a wonderful opportunity for the Conference and many of our sports programs that do not normally receive a great deal of television coverage," said Big 12 Conference Commissioner Kevin Weiberg. "We believe that fans will be very impressed with the quality of play that will be displayed through the College Sports Southwest telecasts. We look forward to growing this relationship in the years ahead and extending the Big 12 brand through these telecasts." COLLEGE SPORTS Southwest will air its first live telecast March 31, at 6:30 p.m. CST, featuring Big 12 baseball, as the fourth-ranked Texas Longhorns head to Oklahoma to take on the Sooners. The network will provide live and replay coverage of this three-game series continuing to April 2. The initial softball telecast is scheduled for April 5, when the Missouri Tigers host the Kansas Jayhawks at University Field at Walton Stadium. Missouri baseball will be featured twice on the series. COLLEGE SPORTS Southwest will carry all three games from Taylor Stadium at Simmons Field against the Baylor Bears, April 7-8-9. The official dedication ceremonies for Mizzou's new Ralph & Debbie Taylor/Phi Delta Theta Stadium at Simmons Field will take place prior to the game on Sat., April 8. The Tigers' series at Texas A&M, May 12-13-14 will also be aired. COLLEGE SPORTS Southwest will provide live coverage of more than 31 live Big 12 baseball and softball contests in addition to live and replay coverage of the 2000 Big 12 Phillips 66 baseball tourney from Oklahoma City and the softball tournament. COLLEGE SPORTS Southwest is an all-college sports cable television network and interactive web network focused on college sports in the Southwest. COLLEGE SPORTS Southwest provides live and replay broadcast of new and traditional rivalries as well as championships, tournaments and original programming. To find out more about Regional Sports Networks, LLC., log-on to www.collegesportscentral.com.
BASEBALL TELECAST SCHEDULE
Fri., Mar. 31, Texas at Oklahoma, 6:30 p.m., Sat., Apr. 1, 6:30 p.m., Sun., Apr. 2, 1 p.m.
Fri., Apr. 7, Baylor at Missouri, 7 p.m., Sat., Apr. 8, 2 p.m., Sun., Apr. 9, 1 p.m.
Fri., Apr. 14, Texas A&M at Oklahoma State, 7 p.m., Sat., Apr. 15, 6 p.m., Sun., Apr. 16, 2 p.m.
Fri., Apr. 21, Texas Tech at Kansas, 7 p.m., Sat., Apr. 22, 2 p.m., Sun., Apr. 23, 1 p.m.
Fri., Apr. 28, Iowa State at Nebraska, 6:30 p.m., Sat., Apr. 29, 7 p.m., Sun., Apr. 30, 1 p.m
Fri., May 5, Kansas at Kansas State, 7 p.m., Sat., May 6, 2 p.m., Sun., May 7, 1 p.m.
Fri., May 12, Missouri at Texas A&M, 7 p.m., Sat., May 13, 7 p.m., Sun., May 14, 2 p.m.
Wed.-Sat., May 17-20-Big 12 Phillips 66 Postseason Tournament, Oklahoma City-Games 1-12/14 (number of games depends on results of two brackets) - Wed.-Thurs., 10 a.m., @1:00 p.m., 5 p.m., @8 p.m., Friday: 4 and @7 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m., @1 p.m., (if necessary) 4 or 5 p.m., @7 or 8 p.m. (depending on results of first two Saturday games).
SOFTBALL TELECAST SCHEDULE
Wed., Apr. 5, Kansas at Missouri, 5 p.m.
Wed., Apr. 12, Texas A&M at Baylor, 5 p.m.
Tue., Apr. 18, Houston at Texas A&M, 7 p.m.
Wed., Apr. 19, Oklahoma State at Oklahoma, 6:30 p.m.
Wed., Apr. 26, Texas A&M at Texas, 6 p.m.
Wed., May 3, Texas Tech at Texas A&M, 2 p.m.
Wed.-Sat., May 10-13-All games prior to title game on May 13 (Times TBD).