Tigers To Play SMS In Non-Conference Tilt
4/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 9, 2002
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri heads to Price Cutter Park in Springfield to play the Southwest Missouri State Bears Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Missouri enters the non-conference game with a 14-16 record while SMS, ranked 27th by Collegiate Baseball, is 20-5.
The game was originally scheduled for 7 p.m. but has been moved to 6:30 p.m.
The MU/SMS Series: The teams split the the two meetings in 2001. Missouri won 12-11 in 11 innings in Columbia. Brian Desch had the game-winning hit for the Tigers. SMS used a four-run eighth ining to record a 5-3 win in Springfield. In the all-time series, Missouri leads, 15-11.
MU's Last Time Out: Jody Roughton hit a two-out, bases-loaded single in the ninth inning to cap Missouri's two-run rally in that inning and give MU a 12-11 win over Washington on April 7. In addition to the ninth-inning comeback, the Tigers rallied from 6-0 and 9-6 deficits in the contest. Roughton had three hits while Jayce Tingler, W.T. Hoover, Lee Laskowski and Luke Cassis each had two hits. Tingler and Cody Ehlers each drove in three runs.
Time For A New Streak: After seeing his 12-game hit streak fall against Washington on April 6, sophomore outfielder Lee Laskowski had two hits on April 7. He has now got a least one hit in 26 of the Tigers' 30 games in 2002.
The Ace: In his past six outings, Travis Wendte has one win, three saves and struck out 10 batters in nine innings of work.
Tough With Two: Jody Roughton has driven in 13 of his team-high 31 runs with two outs in the inning. Cody Ehlers has driven in 14 of his 30 runs in that situation while Jayce Tingler has recorded 12 of his 22 RBI at that time.
Ouch! Jayce Tingler has been hit by nine pitches so far this season.
What A Schedule? In the current edition of strength of schedule rankings by www.boydsworld.com, Missouri has played the nation's sixth-toughest schedule.
Hot Hitters: Luke Cassis and Chris Julo are each hitting .429 in the Tigers' last five games. Jayce Tingler and Cody Ehlers each have driven in seven runs during that same timeframe. In his last nine games, Mick Weiss is hitting .394 with four home runs and 10 runs batted in.
Next Up: Missouri will face nationally ranked Nebraska in a three-game Big 12 Conference series. Game one will be Friday at 6:30 p.m.
