March 2, 2007

MIZZOU VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE
First Pitch:
Game 1: Friday, March 2, 6:30 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, March 3, 2 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, March 4, 1 p.m.
Series History: MU leads 7-1
Last Meeting: MU swept series in 2005
Stadium: Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field
Capacity: 2,200
Radio: KTGR 1580-AM
Live Audio: KTGR.com
Live Video: All-Access on mutigers.com
Live Gametracker: mutigers.com

MISSOURI TIGERS
Overall Record: 6-5
Big 12 Conference Record: 0-0
Last 10/Last 5: 5-5/1-4
Streak: Lost 1
Head Coach: Tim Jamieson
Career Record: 405-295-2 (13th year)
Record at MU: 405-295-2 (13th year)
Website: mutigers.com

YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS
Overall Record: 0-3
Horizon League Record: 0-0
Last 10/5: 0-3/0-3
Streak: Lost 3
Head Coach: Mike Florak
Career Record: 223-275-1 (11th year)
Record at YSU: 190-242-1 (9th year)
Website: YSUsports.com

MIZZOU BASEBALL GAMENOTES
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FIRST PITCH
Mizzou will open its 2007 home schedule this weekend with a three-game series against Youngstown State. The home opener will get underway at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, with games to follow at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Tigers are 6-5 after spending the first three weeks of the season on the road. This weekend's series begins a stretch in which 10 of MU's next 12 games will be played at Taylor Stadium.

LAST TIME OUT
Missouri was 1-3 last weekend as it took part in the Service Academy Classic in Millington, Tenn. Lost in the disappointing 1-3 record, were some impressive pitching performances, as MU's team ERA for the weekend was 1.80. The Tigers dropped a pair of extra-inning games on Friday, before picking up a split in two games on Sunday. Sophomore Rick Zagone struck out a career-high nine, while allowing just one run on seven hits in 8.1 innings of work against BYU in the first game of the weekend. However a three-run top of the 10th inning gave BYU the 4-1 victory. Mizzou followed that with a 13-inning loss to Akron. Freshman Kyle Gibson pitched the final six inning of the game in relief, striking out eight and keeping the Zips scoreless until a three-run top of the 13th inning. The lone victory for the Tigers came in the first game of the day on Sunday, as Missouri defeated Navy 5-0, picking up its first shutout of the season. Senior Stephan Holst and freshmen Ryan Gargano and Ryan Allen each pitched three scoreless innings to lead MU to the victories. The first hit for Navy did not come until two outs into the eighth inning. Against Memphis, in the final game of the weekend, sophomore Aaron Crow set a career high with eight strikeouts in seven scoreless innings, however the Tiger bullpen allowed five runs to Memphis, as Mizzou fell by a 5-1 score.

QUICK HITS
- Junior Evan Frey had three stolen bases against Navy on Feb. 25, one short of a school record. The Tigers stole eight bases as a team against Navy.

- Sophomore Rick Zagone struck out a career-best nine against BYU on Feb. 23.

- Sophomore Aaron Crow set a career-high with eight strikeouts against Memphis on Feb. 25

- Mizzou recorded its first shutout of the season with its 5-0 win over Navy on Feb. 25.

- Senior Stephan Holst pitched three perfect innings against Navy on Feb. 25 in his first appearance since injuring his arm in March of 2006.

- Sophomore Aaron Crow was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher at the Coca-Cola Spring Training Classic in Surprise, Ariz. Feb. 16-18. Crow did not allow an earned run on two hits in MU's victory over Gonzaga.

- Senior Gary Arndt, sophomore Ryan Lollis and freshman Greg Folgia joined Crow on the All-Tournament Team at the Coca-Cola Spring Training Classic.

- With its win over Florida International to open the season, the Tigers improved to 8-4-1 in season openers under Head Coach Tim Jamieson.

SCOUTING THE PENGUINS
Youngstown State enters the weekend looking for its first win of 2007. The Penguins were swept in a three-game series with Stephen F. Austin last weekend to stand 0-3 on the year. The Penguins were picked to finish fifth in the Horizon League by the league coaches. YSU has several new faces on the roster, as 15 true freshman, a walk-on sophomore and a junior college transfer have joined the Penguins in 2007, along with three redshirt freshmen, who will also be looking for their first playing time with YSU.

SERIES HISTORY
Missouri has won seven of the eight all-time matchups with Youngstown State. All eight of the games took place between the 2003 and 2005 seasons. The Tigers defeated YSU twice in 2003, winning 9-0 and 10-2. In 2004, the Penguins picked up their lone win against MU, as they won the series opener that year, 3-2. Mizzou took the next two games of the weekend. Missouri swept Youngstown State in the three game series in 2005, as the Tigers outscored YSU by a score of 42-2 in the series taking victories by scores of 13-0, 17-0 and 12-2.

MIZZOU PUT RUNS ON THE BOARD LATE
Of Missouri's 58 runs scored on the season heading into this weekend's series with Youngstown State, 32 runs have come between the seventh and ninth innings. MU has scored 13 runs in the seventh innings and 14 runs in the eighth. However, the Tigers have been outscored 6-0 in extra innings so far this season.

JAMIESON JOINS THE 400-WIN CLUB
Missouri's win in the season opener marked the 400th career victory for MU Head Coach Tim Jamieson. He enters the weekend with a 405-295-2 record in his 13th season at the helm. Jamieson joins legendary Mizzou coaches Gene McArtor (733 wins) and John "Hi" Simmons (481 wins) as the only coaches in MU history to reach the 400-win mark. McArtor and Simmons both have their numbers retired at MU and are members of the Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame. Jamieson took over as head coach of the Tigers in 1995. During his tenure, Missouri has recorded at least 30 wins 10 times and has made five trips to the NCAA Tournament, including the last four. Last year he took the Tigers to the first Super Regional in school history. He has coached five players to All-America honors and eight to Freshman All-America recognition.

COMING BACK
Offensively, the Tigers return much of their offensive production from last season. In 2006, Jacob Priday, who returns for his junior season, led the Tigers in home runs (11), RBI (49), total bases (112) and slugging percentage (.481) and was second in doubles (13). Brock Bond, Evan Frey and Ryan Lollis finished the 2006 season with the top batting averages for the Tigers and all three return in 2007. Bond, Frey and John McKee led the squad in on base percentage a year ago and will return for the new season. On the mound, Aaron Crow and Rick Zagone made a combined 37 appearances and 25 starts for Mizzou in 2006 as freshmen. Crow was third on the team with 77.2 innings pitched, while Zagone was fourth (68.2).

TIGERS EIGHTH IN BIG 12 POLL
Missouri was picked eighth in the Big 12 Coaches' Preseason Poll. Texas was the pick to win the conference, garnering seven of the 10 first place votes and 79 total points. Oklahoma State was second with 70 points and two first-place votes. Two seasons ago, Mizzou was picked eighth in the preseason poll and finished the year fourth.

ALL-ACCESS
Video webcast for all Mizzou Baseball home games in 2007 will be available at mutigers.com as part of the new All-Access. All-Access is the Tiger fans home to live and archived games for Mizzou Athletics, along with coaches' shows, press conferences and much more. For more information, visit mutigers.com and click on the All-Access icon.

ON THE AIR
Once again, KTGR 1580-AM will be the radio home of the Tigers. All of Mizzou's regular season and postseason games will air on KTGR 1580-AM in Columbia. The games can also be heard online at KTGR.com. Tex Little returns for his 17th season of calling Tiger Baseball and is joined in the booth by former Tiger catcher J.C. Field

EX-TIGERS EARN ACCOLADES IN THE MINOR LEAGUES
Former Mizzou standouts Mark Alexander and Cody Ehlers each earned postseason honors for their performances last year in Minor League Baseball. Alexander was named the Los Angeles Dodgers' Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year, after compiling 27 saves to lead all Dodger Minor Leaguers for a second-straight season. Alexander was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection in 2004, as he recorded 10 saves, which is second most in a season in Mizzou history. Ehlers, a member of the Tampa Yankees, was voted the Florida State League's Most Valuable Player. He led the FSL in RBI (103) and doubles (35) and was fourth in hits (142). He hit .298 with 18 home runs. As a senior at MU in 2004, Ehlers led the Tigers in nearly every offensive category and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Big 12 Tournament.

UP NEXT
This weekend's series with Youngstown State begins a stretch in which the Tigers play 10 of their next 12 games at Taylor Stadium. Following three games against YSU, Missouri welcomes Louisiana-Monroe to town for games at 6:30 p.m. on March 6 and 4 p.m. on March 7.