April 13, 2002
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri and Nebraska face off in game two of a three-game Big 12 Conference series in today's 2 p.m. contest at Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field. Missouri enters the game with a 15-17 overall and 4-9 Big 12 mark while Nebraska, ranked as high as 10th by Collegiate Baseball, is 22-12 overall and 9-7 in league play.
Probable Pitchers: Missouri will have Justin James (Fr., RHP, 1-1, 7.14 ERA) start on the pitcher's mound while Nebraska will send Aaron Marsden (So., LHP, 2-1, 1.35 ERA) to the hill. Marsden leads the Big 12 in earned run average.
Last Night: Cody Ehlers had three hits but none were bigger than a two-run double to left-center with two outs in the eighth inning as Missouri scored five times in that frame to record the 9-6 victory. Jayce Tingler had two hits as did Jody Roughton and Lee Laskowski. Aaron Paterson picked up the win with two innings of scoreless relief work while Travis Wendte recorded his fifth save of the season. Missouri scored the game's first run in the second inning before Nebraska plated four runs in the third inning. MU scored one run in the fourth and twice in the fifth inning to tie the contest, 4-4. Nebraska scored two runs in the sixth inning to set up the Tigers' rally.
Streaks: Jayce Tingler has the Tigers' longest current hit streak as he got two hits last night to run his streak to eight games. Jody Roughton and W.T. Hoover had hits last night to run their streaks to four games each.
Speaking of Streaks: Senior Aaron Paterson has appeared in six consecutive games. He has thrown 9.1 innings and allowed eight hits while striking out eight. Earlier this season, Paterson had thrown in four straight games.
The Ace: In his past seven outings, Travis Wendte has one win, four saves and 12 strikeouts in 10 innings of work.
Don't Face Me: If the Tigers have a chance to take the lead or tie the game, Missouri wants Cody Ehlers at the plate. In the Tigers' last three wins, Ehlers has either given Missouri the lead or tied the game. Ehlers hit a two-run home run in the 12th inning to defeat Washington on April 6, doubled to drive in the tying run against UW on April 7 and doubled last night to drive in two runs to give Missouri an 8-6 lead over Nebraska.
What A Schedule? In the current edition of strength of schedule rankings by www.boydsworld.com, Missouri has played the nation's 12th-toughest schedule.
Next Up: Missouri and Nebraska wrap up the series Sunday at 1 p.m.