Missouri, Nebraska To Square Off In Big 12 Series
4/11/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 11, 2002
COLUMBIA, Mo. - After playing five consecutive non-conference games, Missouri returns to Big 12 Conference action with a three-game series this weekend against nationallly ranked Nebraska.
Here's a look at the games:
*MU vs. 10/14 Nebraska, Friday, 6:30 p.m., Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field
*MU vs. 10/14 Nebraska, Saturday, 2 p.m., Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field
*MU vs. 10/14 Nebraska, Sunday, 1 p.m., Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field
Saturday's game will be Columbia Fireman Appreciation Day. The first 500 fans will receive a coupon for a Truman Bobblehead doll. There will be a youth clinic (children 13-and-under) following Sunday's contest.
All three games will be shown live on the Internet. If you wish to watch, please go to www.mutigers.com and follow the links. The games will also be shown on TV on a tape-delayed basis. The schedule varies depending on the cable system (Mediacom or Charter).
Records: Missouri is 14-17 (3-9 Big 12) this season while Nebraska is 22-11 (9-6)
Probable Starters: Here's a best guess of Missouri's starting pitcher rotation: Garrett Broshuis, Friday, Justin James, Saturday, and TBA, Sunday. Nebraska lines up with three left-handed pitchers: Jamie Rodrigue, Friday, Aaron Marsden, Saturday, and Brian Duensing, Sunday.
Last Time Out: The Tigers suffered a 6-4 loss to Southwest Missouri State on Tuesday. Jody Roughton had two hits for the Tigers. Missouri had the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth inning but could not come away with the win.
MU/Nebraska Series: Missouri leads the all-time series, 131-95. The series is one of the oldest in Missouri history as it started in 1898. The Tigers won that three-game series, two to one. MU has won the three-game series from Nebraska in 1999 and 2001 but both of those meetings were in Lincoln.
Last Time in Columbia: Nebraska won the three-game series, three to none, by scores of 7-2, 15-8 and 9-5.
Nebraska Notes: The Cornhuskers, ranked in the nation's top 15 in all four polls, have one of the Big 12's top pitching staffs. Nebraska has posted conference-low marks of 3.52 earned run average and .252 opponents' batting average.
On offense, NU is led by center fielder Jeff Leise, who is hitting .394 with eight home runs. Jed Morris is hitting .360 with 17 doubles and seven homers.
The Hit Man: Sophomore outfielder Lee Laskowski continues to rack up the hits. Since becoming an offensive threat for the Tigers during the 2001 season, Laskowski has been one tough out. Despite appearing in only 38 games in 2001, he had 12 multi-hit games. He has already bettered that mark in 31 games this season, having 15 multi-hit efforts in 2002. Laskowski saw his 12-game hit streak snapped against Washington on April 6 after going 0-for-2 in a reserve role. He currently has a two-game streak.
The Hit Parade: In 21 of its 31 games this season, Missouri has had 10 or more hits. In 2001, MU had 29 games with 10 or more hits.
Who's Hot? Lee Laskowski is hitting .421 (8-of-19) in his last five games. Jayce Tingler has driven in a team-high seven runs during that span.
The Whiff: Travis Wendte continues to be impressive out of the Tigers' bullpen. Wendte, who had a win and a save in the Washington series, has not allowed a run in his last seven appearances. Wendte, a freshman right-hander from Moore, Okla., has struck out 11 batters in his last 10 innings of work and allowed only eight hits. Wendte has struck out four batters on four separate occasions this season.
Tough Starter: Garrett Broshuis has had back-to-back strong starts. Broshuis, a freshman right-hander from Advance, Mo., has gone eight innings in both of his past two starts. He picked up a win over nationally ranked Texas Tech (March 31 - game two) after scattering seven hits, allowing one run and recording six strikeouts in that contest. He did not get a decision in the Tigers' extra-inning victory over Washington (April 6). He scattered eight hits against the Huskies, allowing three runs and striking out five.
First Win: It took until his seventh start, but Justin James, a freshman right-hander from Yukon, Okla., picked up his first collegiate victory in MU's 11-9 win over Washington (April 5). James has left the game with leads twice in Big 12 play only to come away without a decision.
Versus Left: The way Nebraska's pitching rotation is set now, Missouri will see a left-handed starter each game. Missouri is 4-7 when facing a left-handed starter this season. MU is hitting .293 against left-handed pitching this season and .305 against right-handed pitching.
Game Rescheduled: The Feb. 26 Missouri/Saint Louis game which was postponed due to weather will now be played on April 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field.
Setting The Table: As a team, the Tigers are doing quite well reaching base leading off an inning. MU's success rate this is season is .477. Lee Laskowski leads the squad1 at .609 (14-of-23) while Jody Roughton is at .586 (17-of-29). Other leaders are: Cody Ehlers, .538 (14-of-26), Luke Cassis, .500 (16-of-32), and Jayce Tingler, .491 (26-of-53).
Tough With Two: Ryan Rallo remains the Tigers' top producer when batting with two outs. Rallo is hitting .500 (13-of-26). Cody Ehlers and Jody Roughton have driven in 14 and 13 runs, respectively, when batting in that situation.
Pinch Hit Heroes: Depending on the situation, count on Bo Davis or W.T.Hoover to come through while serving as a pinch hitter. Davis is hitting. 667 as a pinch hitter while Hoover is hitting .444 in that role.
Ouch! For the second time this season, outfielder Ryan Rallo has suffered a concussion. Rallo, a sophomore outfielder, suffered a concussion against Southeast Missouri (4/2) in a collision at first base. Rallo's first concussion was when he hit the wall while making a catch (and starting a double play) against New Orleans on Feb. 23. Rallo will miss the Washington series and his timeline on returning to the Tiger lineup is unknown at this time. Tiger catcher Brian Desch is also on the "disabled list" after suffering a concussion and recently returned to practice. Ryan Rothford has missed the past three games after re-injuring the middle finger on his left hand. No word has been made regarding the return of either Desch or Rothford. Abel Newton suffered an injury to his left leg against Washington on April 7. Newton, while backing up a play at third base, spiked himself near his ankle. He received five stitches and his status for this weekend is undetermined at this time.
Big 12 Records: Matt Hobbs set a Big 12 Conference record when he struck out seven straight batters over a two-game stretch. Hobbs struck out the final four batters he faced against Harris-Stowe (3/26) before whiffing the side in the seventh inning against Texas Tech (3/29). Hobbs and Derek Roper teamed to strike out nine consecutive batters against Harris-Stowe (3/26).
Off And Running: Jayce Tingler has stolen 42 bases in his career to rank fifth all-time in that career chart. Dave Silvestri (1986-88) ranks fourth with 47. Tingler could crack the program's all-time Top 10 charts this season in walks, hits and runs scored.
Here's a look at where Tingler stands and who holds the mark is for 10th:
Walks - Tingler, 104 10th, Jon Williams, 116
Hits - Tingler, 161 10th, Curt Brown, 210
Runs - Tingler, 132 10th, Greg Cypret, 156
It's My Birthday: The Tigers celebrate several birthdays on game days this season. Here's a list of who's already had birthdays and who's next:
Feb. 15 - Tyrone Roberson (DNP in MU's 6-4 win over Portland)
Feb. 16 - Mick Weiss (0x4, 2 runs scored in MU's 11-7 win over Portland)
March 2 - Matt Hobbs (game with Youngstown State canceled due to weather)
March 10 - W.T. Hoover (DNP vs. Oklahoma) and Ryan Rothford (DNP vs. OU)
March 30 - Drew Endicott (game with Texas Tech rained out)
April 16 - Cody Ehlers (vs. Southwest Missouri)
Tough Schedule: According to this week's rankings by www.boydsworld.com, Missouri has played the nation's 12th-toughest schedule. The Tigers should remain among those leaders as they have series against nationally ranked Nebraska, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State remaining on the Big 12 Conference schedule as well as a game with nationally ranked Southwest Missouri State.
Five Hits: Chris Julo had five hits in Missouri's 20-4 win over William Woods (Mo.) on March 6. Julo's performance were the most hits any MU player has had in a game since J.R. Warner had five hits against Centenary on Feb. 2, 2000.
Coaching Staff: Head coach Tim Jamieson, who is in his eighth season, has guided the Tigers to an overall record of 240-182-1. Missouri is 100-109 in Big 12/Big 8 play during his reign. He recorded his 200th career victory with a 9-8 win over Wichita State on March 7, 2001. He picked up his 100th career conference win with the 7-1 victory against Texas Tech (3/31 - game two).
A University of New Orleans graduate, Jamieson was an assistant coach for the Tigers for six seasons before taking over the top spot. He led the Tigers to the 1996 Big 8 regular season crown and a berth in the Midwest Regional. Jamieson is assisted by Chal Fanning (pitching coach, sixth season), Evan Pratte (hitting coach/infield, fifth season) and Chris Smith (outfield, second season). The Tigers have had 19 players enter professional baseball during Jamieson's tenure. Jamieson's milestone victories:
*1 - Missouri 12, Lincoln 2 - Feb. 27, 1995
*50 - Missouri 8, Nebraska 2 - April 24, 1996
*100 - Missouri 3, Eastern Michigan 0 - March 14, 1998
*150 - Missouri 5, Oklahoma 2 - April 17, 1999
*200 - Missouri 9, Wichita State 8 - March 7, 2001
Preseason Talk: Jayce Tingler was named the Big 12 Conference's best baserunner by Baseball America while Abel Newton was named one of the league's top newcomers.
Top Class: Missouri had one of the nation's top recruiting classes this past year, according to Collegiate Baseball in its annual compilation of top recruiting classes. Missouri was listed in the "other top classes" category.
Success: The Tigers opened the 2002 season ranked 36th among all NCAA Division I teams with 1,774 wins. In its 106 seasons of baseball, MU has won 60.5 percent of its games.
Broadcasts: The Tigers' games this season are carried on KWWC (90.5 FM) as well as on www.mutigers.com. Sean Kelley is in his fourth season as the play-by-play announcer.
Home Runs for Kids: Again this season, the Tigers have teamed with the University of Missouri Children's Hospital to develop a special program called "Home Runs for Kids." The program is geared to raise money for sick children at the Children's Hospital at University Hospital and Clinics. The fund-raising program will recruit baseball fans, individuals, businesses, clubs and organizations, to pledge 25 cents to $10 or more for every home run the Tigers hit this season. All of the money raised by the "Home Run for Kids" program will be used locally to fund equipment, research and programs for patients at Children's Hospital. The Tigers have hit 25 home runs in 2002.
Next: Missouri will play Southwest Missouri State on April 16 and Saint Louis on April 17 at Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field. The Tigers will play Kansas on April 19 at 6:30 p.m. before heading to Lawrence, Kan., to complete the Big 12 Conference series on April 20 (7 p.m.) and April 21 (2 p.m.).
