April 9, 2003
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MIZZOU GOES FOR DOZEN STRAIGHT VS. LEATHERNECKS
The University of Missouri baseball team (23-8), which broke into three of the four major national polls this week, plays its first makeup game in several weeks when Western Illinois (10-16) comes to town. The game was originally scheduled as a two-game midweek series in the first week of March, yet snow canceled that series.
? ? ? The Tigers will look to continue their 11-game winning streak, which is the longest since the 1988 squad won 13 straight.
? ? ? Junior transfer Danny Hill (Weimer, Texas) will get the ball for Head Coach Tim Jamieson and is scheduled to make his third straight midweek start. Hill (1-0) will go for his first win since Feb. 22.
RANK-AND-FILE
For the first time since the 1997 preseason, the Tigers have cracked the nation's top 25. Mizzou is ranked No. 20 in Collegiate Baseball for the first time since the final 1996 poll; No. 24 by the National College Baseball Writers Association; and No. 25 by the editors at Baseball America, who last ranked the Tigers in their 1997 preseason poll.
HOW SWEEP IT IS
As previously mentioned, the Tigers are in the midst of an 11-game winning streak. Included in the string are sweeps of Big 12 rivals Kansas, Kansas State and Texas Tech (two games). Some notes:
BASHING THE BIG 12
Please be aware that this note deals solely with the offensive prowess of the Tiger baseball team, and in no way is meant to jeopardize the outstanding relationship Mizzou enjoys as a proud member of the Big 12 Conference.
? ? ? Mizzou's bats are hot - so hot that they're leading the Big 12 with a .321 team batting average. In addition, the Tigers' output of 9.0 runs per game leads the league. With its 169 walks also tops on the list, it creates an impressive .426 team on-base percentage, which ... leads the Big 12.
? ? ? Individually, senior OF Jayce Tingler (Smithville, Mo.) leads the Big 12 in walks (27 in 31 games) and is among the league's top 10 in runs (33), triples (3) and on-base percentage (.503).
SCOUTING REPORT: WESTERN ILLINOIS
The Leathernecks, under second-year head coach Stan Hyman, have played all 26 of their games away from home, compiling an 8-15 road record and a 2-1 mark at neutral sites.
? ? ? Hyman recorded his 200th career win against defending NAIA National Champion Lewis & Clark in Hawaii on March 28.
? ? ? Western is led by junior OF Blake Shultz, who leads the Mid-Continent Conference with a .362 batting average, 38 hits and 10 doubles. As a squad, the Leathernecks are batting .277, while the pitching staff is yielding a 7.13 ERA.
WESTERN ILLINOIS SERIES INFORMATION
Mizzou leads the all-time series by a 15-4 margin. The Leathernecks split a series with MU last season to post their first win against Missouri since 1993 to break a nine-game losing streak. Mizzou is 15-5 in non-conference games this season, including 8-1 at home.
NO BULL: GOOD BULLPEN
It is without question that, in addition to strong starting pitching, a solid bullpen is essential to the success of a team. Mizzou's bullpen has come through in a big way this year, and the numbers back it up.
? ? ? The Tiger bullpen staff has compiled a quite-respectful 2.85 ERA to date this season, and has yet to lose a game in relief.
TIGERS 36TH TO 1,800 WINS
With its 11-4 win against Northern Iowa on Feb. 23, Missouri became the 36th program in NCAA history to amass 1,800 wins. Mizzou's record through 106-plus seasons of baseball is 1,806-1,168-19 (.608).
MIZZOU LOOKING FOR NINTH LEAGUE WIN
The Tigers aren't even to the halfway point of the Big 12 schedule, yet need just one win to equal their league victory total of nine from a year ago.
? ? ? At 8-3, Mizzou is off to its best-ever start in the seven years of the Big 12. The Tigers' best Big 12 season came in the second year of the league, when the 1998 squad compiled a 17-12 record for fifth place.
TAYLOR NAMED BIG 12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Freshman 3B Zane Taylor (Kirksville, Mo.) was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Baseball Player of the Week in voting by a select panel of media covering Big 12 baseball for games played from Mar. 25-31.
? ? ? Taylor is the first Tiger to be so honored since Mick Weiss and Lee Laskowski were tabbed in back-to-back weeks in mid-April of last season.
? ? ? Taylor paced the Tigers to a 4-0 week and second consecutive sweep of a Big 12 opponent (Kansas State) with a .556 average (10-for-18), four runs, a home run, six RBI, 13 total bases, a .722 slugging percentage, and one stolen base in his lone attempt. For the season, Taylor is batting .370 - second on the team among regulars - with a homer and 24 RBI.
GARRETT FILLS IN NICELY FOR KINSLER
When junior SS Ian Kinsler (Tucson, Ariz.) injured his foot in the final inning of the Texas series on March 16, freshman SS Adam Garrett (Sikeston, Mo.) was pressed into duty, and filled Kinsler's shoes quite well.
? ? ? In the nine games he was in the starting lineup - Kinsler returned to active duty at short on April 4 against Texas Tech - Garrett batted a team-leading .621 (18-for-29) with a double and nine RBI. He also boasted a Tiger-best .714 on-base percentage over that stretch. For the season, Garrett is batting .487 with a double and 10 RBI.
TINGLER DRIVES THE TRAIN
Senior OF Jayce Tingler (Smithville, Mo.) continues to prove himself as one of the Big 12's best leadoff hitters, yet he is also helping the Tigers in a way that would be expected of someone hitting lower in the order. In addition to leading the Tigers with 33 runs scored - which is not surprising from the leadoff spot - he also leads the team with 31 RBI. Tingler also hit his first career homer, at Southeast Missouri on March 11.
MU/BAYLOR PICKED FOR FOX SPORTS NET
Officials from the Big 12 Conference office released the league's FOX Sports Net television slate at the end of February, and the Saturday game of the Missouri series at Baylor on April 19 has been selected for telecast.
? ? ? The last time the a Tigers were televised by FOX Sports Net was an April 21, 2001, contest at Kansas State.