Tiger Baseball to Host Aggies at Taylor Stadium
3/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 19, 2009
MIZZOU vs. TEXAS A&M
MARCH 20-22, 2009 • COLUMBIA, MO.
| First Pitch | Friday: 6:30 p.m. / Saturday: 2 p.m. / Sunday: 1 p.m. |
| Stadium | Taylor Stadium |
| Series | TAMU leads 35-25 |
| Radio | KTGR 1580-AM / KTGR.com |
| Live Video | mutigers.com |
| Gametracker |
mutigers.com |
FIRST PITCH
Mizzou opens its home Big 12 Conference schedule with a three-game series this weekend with Texas A&M. Game one of the weekend is set for 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 9-10 on the season and 1-2 in the Big 12, while Texas A&M enters the weekend with a13-7 record and a 2-1 conference mark. Missouri snapped a two-game skid by defeating SIU-Edwardsville, 4-1, on Wednesday to open a six-game home stand. Following this weekend's series with the Aggies, MU will host Illinois-Chicago for a pair of games (Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday at 4 p.m.). Texas A&M has lost three-straight heading into the weekend. The Aggies are ranked No. 3 by Baseball America after opening the season ranked No. 1 by that same publication.
GIBSON NAMED BIG 12 AND NATIONAL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
On Monday, Mizzou junior Kyle Gibson was named the Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week. It was his second career Conference Pitcher of the Week honor. Then on Tuesday, he was selected as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Pro-Line Athletic National Pitcher of the Week. Gibson improved to 3-1 on the season after picking up his first career shutout in MU's series opener with Texas last Saturday in Austin. Gibson struck out 11 batters and gave up six hits in nine innings pitched, as the Tigers defeated Texas, 2-0. The complete-game was the first nine-inning complete game for Gibson, who has had two seven-inning complete games in his career. Gibson has an ERA of 0.90 on the year, which is fourth best in the Big 12. He ranks second in the conference with 38 strikeouts in 30.0 innings pitched.
TEPESCH TURNS IN CAREER-LONG OUTING AT TEXAS
Sophomore Nick Tepesch has set a new career-high in innings pitched in each of his last three outings. He pitched 6.1 innings against Arizona State on March 1, giving up just one run on six hits and striking out a career-best eight. The following week, Tepesch picked up his first win of the season as turned in 6.2 innings pitched against Ball State, setting a new career high with 12 strikeouts. Last week, at Texas, Tepesch pitched eight innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out four. He left the game with the lead, but took a no decision. Tepesch has struck out 29 batters in 25.0 innings pitched this season and is 1-1 with an ERA of 5.04.
LOLLIS LEADS THE TIGERS AT THE PLATE
Through the early stretch of the season, senior Ryan Lollis has been one the Tigers' most consistent performer. Lollis is hitting .299 and has a team-best 17 RBI. He has recorded a hit in 16 of Missouri's 20 games and has had two three-hit games (against Gonzaga on Feb. 22 and against Western Illinois on March 4). Lollis had an eight-game hitting streak from Feb. 22-March 6. He has three doubles, two triples and had a home run against Gonzaga. On March 4, Lollis drove in three runs, going 3-for-4 against Western Illinois. He also scored three runs against WIU. Lollis was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in last June's Major League Baseball Draft, but passed up a chance to turn professional to return to MU.
SENNE IS A HIT FOR MIZZOU
Junior Aaron Senne has recorded at least one hit in 11 of the last 13 games and is hitting .318 on the season. Senne had a seven-game hitting streak from Feb. 27-March 7. He had a four-game hitting streak snapped on Wednesday against SIUE. Last season, Senne led the Tigers with a .347 batting average, with 13 home runs and 14 doubles.
HICKS MOVES UP MISSOURI'S ALL-TIME SAVES LIST
Senior Scooter Hicks picked up saves in three-straight appearances, March 1-8. His three saves on the season give him 14 for his career, which places him in a tie for fourth place all-time at Missouri. Hicks is tied with Jeff Cornell (1976-78) on the all-time career saves list at MU and is two behind third-place Travis Wendte (2002-06). Scott Black holds the MU record with 19 career saves (1987-90). Hicks had six saves in his first year at Missouri (2007), which tied for 10th on MU's single season saves list. He recorded five last year.
ON THE AIR
Once again this year, KTGR 1580-AM is 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 is in his 19th season of calling Tiger Baseball and is joined in the booth by Hudson Guthrie, who returns for his second year as part of the Tigers' broadcast team.
ALL-ACCESS
Video webcast for all Missouri Baseball home games in 2009 is available at mutigers.com as part of Mizzou 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.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will conclude their six-game homestand with a pair of games against Illinois-Chicago next week at Taylor Stadium. Game one of the series is Tuesday at 6:30, with game two set for 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Next weekend, Mizzou will be in Stillwater, Okla. for a three-game series against Oklahoma State.
