Jan. 27, 2002

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri baseball team took advantage of Sunday's 66 degree weather and opened the 2002 practice sessions at Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field.

After a brief infield/outfield session, the Tigers split into two teams and held an intrasquad game. Ryan Rallo, Felipe Tetelboin and Chris Julo each hit home runs in the contest. Kurt Propst added a pair of doubles while Tyrone Roberson also doubled. Roberson, a freshman outfielder, joins the Tigers after spending the fall as a running back for the MU football team. He will split time between the football and baseball programs this spring.

A pair of freshmen, Garrett Broshuis and Justin James started on the pitching mound. Transfer Aaron Paterson and Cody Ehlers also worked in relief. Paterson, a senior left-hander, joined the Tigers after the first semester. He played at Iowa State last season before the Cyclones dropped the program.

"We've got a long ways to go," said Missouri head coach Tim Jamieson. "Our hitting approach was good but we need to work on hitting spots as pitchers and a number of things on defense. It was great to get outside today and we hope to keep doing that this week."

Practice resumes Monday at 2:30 p.m.