| Game | Location | Day/Time (CT) | Media |
|---|---|---|---|
| at Georgia | Foley Field | Friday // 5 p.m. (CT) | Live Stats | Radio | SEC Network |
| at Georgia | Foley Field | Saturday // 1 p.m. (CT) | Live Stats | Radio |
| at Georgia | Foley Field | Sunday// Noon | Live Stats | Radio |
Leading Off - Notables About the Tigers
• Mizzou opens SEC play with Georgia in a three-game series at Floey Field in Athens this weekend. Since Mizzou joined the SEC, each team has won a road series against the other. This is Mizzou's second trip to Foley Field, where the Tigers are 2-1 all-time. Friday and Sunday's contests will air on SEC Network-Plus.
• Pitching continues to be the story for the Tigers as Mizzou ranks third in the SEC in ERA at 2.11.
• Senior Brett Peel and sophomore Jake Ring have done a nice job getting on base for Mizzou this season. Ring has reached base safely in all 16 games for the Tigers this season while Peel has done so in 14 straight. Peel has his career-long 10-game hitting streak snapped last Sunday against Milwaukee.
FastBalls - Quick Notes About the Pitching
• Mizzou is third in the SEC in ERA after four and a half weeks of play at 2.11.
• Despite losing three games last weekend, Mizzou's pitching certainly was not at fault as the Tigers still second in the SEC in hits allowed, walks allowed and first extra-base hits allowed.
• Mizzou is also limiting opponents to .196 batting on the year, second-best in the SEC, trailing only Vanderbilt (.187).
• Mizzou is also 2nd in the SEC in runs allowed as well.
• Mizzou has allowed three or fewer runs in 13 of 16 games this season and has allowed one or fewer in six games, including three shutouts.
• The four Tigers weekend starters for Mizzou this season have allowed just 23 earned run in 91.2 innings pitched, good fora 2.26 ERA.
• The bullpen has been equally as impressive, specifically the three-headed duo of Austin Tribby, Breckin Williams and Andrew Schwaab. They have allowed just 13 hits in 33.2 innings.
• Mizzou has a staff WHIP of 1.08 heading into the weekend.
SERIES NOTES
• Mizzou's series with Georgia is tied, 3-3, with each team winning road series, two games to one, in each of Mizzou's first two years in the SEC. Mizzou took two of three from Georgia in Athens in 2013 while the Bulldogs countered by taking two of three in Columbia last season.
• Last year's Friday night game went 13 innings with the Bulldogs claiming a 2-1 win. Georgia then won 7-2 on Saturday before Mizzou rallied to win the finale, 4-2.
RECAPPING WEDNESDAY
Brett Peel (St. Charles, Mo.), Josh Lester (Columbus, Ga.) and Chris Akmon (Scottsdale, Ariz.) all had two RBI as Mizzou (12-4) bested SIU-Edwardsville by a 9-4 final on Wednesday night (March 11) at Taylor Stadium. Peel also scored once and stole two bases, tying him for the SEC lead with 12. He also extended his on-base streak to 14 games.
Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) tallied two hits and scored three times in the contest, leading the team in runs scored. Akmon and Logan Pearson (Bentonville, Ark.) also scored twice in the contest. The victory capped off a two-game midweek set in which the Tigers scored 19 runs in two games, their highest total since March of 2012 where they hit double digits in each game of a pair against North Dakota.
RING GETTING ON BASE
Sophomore center fielder Jake Ring came into the season known for his incredible play in center field, but he is breaking out at the plate as a sophomore. He has reached base safely in all 16 games for the Tigers this season and leads the team in walks and runs. He also leads the team in extra-base hits (seven) and has driven in nine runs, second on the team.
LESTER GOES OFF
Junior infielder Josh Lester became the first Tiger since Blake Brown in 2012 to tally five RBI in a single game when he knocked in five runs against Truman State on Tuesday. He tallied a homer and a pair of doubles and scored two runs, accounting for seven of the Tigers' 10 runs. Lester is now eighth in the SEC in runs batted in this season and leads the team. With 17 RBI, he has surpassed his RBI total from a season ago (13) and is just 10 shy of the mark that helped earn him All-SEC Freshman Team honors in 2013. He added two RBI to his ledger Wednesday vs. SIUE.
PEEL LEADS IN SEC IN STEALS
After swiping two bases in Wednesday's win over SIUE, Brett Peel now has 12 on the season. He is tied for the SEC lead in that category with LSU's Alex Bregman and already surpassed Mizzou's top base-stealing mark from a season ago (eight by Kendall Keeton).
PITCHING IS STILL THE STORY
As much as the Tigers have benefited from timely hitting and good defense early this season, pitching has been the story. Below are a few talking points:
• Mizzou is third in the SEC in ERA after four and a half weeks of play at 2.11.
• Despite losing three games last weekend, Mizzou's pitching certainly was not at fault as the Tigers still rank second in the SEC in hits allowed, walks allowed and are first in extra-base hits allowed.
• Mizzou is also limiting opponents to .196 batting on the year, second-best in the SEC, trailing only Vanderbilt.
• Mizzou is also second in the SEC in runs allowed as well.
• Mizzou has allowed three or fewer runs in 13 of 16 games this season and has allowed one or fewer in six games, including three shutouts.
• The four Tigers weekend starters for Mizzou this season have allowed just 23 earned run in 91.2 innings pitched, good fora 2.26 ERA.
• The bullpen has been equally as impressive, specifically the three-headed duo of Austin Tribby, Breckin Williams and Andrew Schwaab. They have allowed just 13 hits in 33.2 innings.
• Mizzou has a staff WHIP of 1.08 heading into the weekend.
BULLPEN TRIO IS LIGHTS OUT
Mizzou's three-headed monster out of the bullpen consists of closer Breckin Williams, Austin Tribby and Andrew Schwaab. The trio has combined to throw 33.2 innings and has allowed just 13 hits in that span. In more than three full games of work, they have allowed just 26 baserunners and have 26 strikeouts.
POWER SURGE
Mizzou has blasted eight homers so far this season. While that number standing alone is not that impressive, what is impressive is the increased homer production from a season ago for Mizzou. It took Mizzou 44 games to get to eight home runs last year - a feat that took just 15 games in 2015. Last year, Mizzou finished the year with just 10, so the increased homers are a huge positive for Mizzou.
The stat also translates to extra-base hits in general. Mizzou has 37 so far this season through 14 games. It took Mizzou 21 games to get 34 extra-base hits last season.
WALKING OFF
Freshman Brett Bond launched a walk-off, two-run homer in Mizzou's 2-0 win over Sam Houston State. It was Mizzou's first walk-off homer since Ryan Ampleman defeated Kansas in May of 2009. Junior Josh Lester then launched a walk-off homer in game one of the UIC series in the bottom of the ninth, Mizzou's second walk-off homer of the season. Lester's bomb was also Mizzou's third walk-off win this season after having just two all of 2014.
WINNING CLOSE GAMES
Mizzou has also won its fair share of close games, winning five one-run games already this season. Mizzou won five of those variety all year in 2014. Mizzou is also 3-0 when tied after eight innings this season after going 1-7 in such games a season ago.
BECAUSE THREE IS BETTER THAN ONE
Mizzou did something that may have never been done in school history last Sunday against Purdue. With the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the sixth and with the Tigers trying to preserve a 1-0 lead, Andrew Schwaab got a ground ball to third to start a 5-2-3-2 triple play. While it may have been done before at Mizzou, it is the first documented triple play in the record books. It turned out to be the play of the game as Mizzou held on to win, 1-0, behind a one- hitter from the pitching staff.
LAVY, PEARSON WITH BIG WEEKENDS
Senior Logan Pearson is coming off of a five-hit weekend against Milwaukee, tallying a pair of doubles. Pearson hit .625 (5-for-8) with two doubles and a stolen base last weekend, raising his average to a team-best .292 before going 0-5 Tuesday night vs. Truman State. Junior Zach Lavy also hit his first career Division I homer last weekend, a solo shot on Sunday. Lavy hit .273 last weekend as well.
MCCLAIN EARNS SEC HONOR, TWICE
Mizzou junior RHP Reggie McClain was named SEC Pitcher of the Week on Monday (Feb. 23) following his complete game shutout of Sam Houston State. He is the first SEC pitcher to accomplish that feat since LSU's Aaron Nola did so in 2013.
McClain is third in the SEC in ERA (0.38), first in innings pitched (24.0), second in strikeouts (24), third in opponent batting (.132) and 10th in walks allowed (just three).
RECRUITNG CLASS IS GOOD
The 2014 Mizzou baseball freshman class earned a pair of top-25 national rankings as Baseball America tabbed the class 12th nationally while Perfect Game slotted the Tigers at No. 22. Mizzou now ranks in the top 31 in all of the major recruiting rankings after being ranked No. 31 by Collegiate Baseball with an average rank of No. 22 nationally. The No. 12 ranking in Baseball America is the best for the Tigers since 2007, when the team checked in at No. 11.
In the Baseball America rankings, the Tigers check in at 12th nationally and fifth in the Southeastern Conference. The 14-player class has two players - Bryce Montes De Oca (72) and Shane Benes (400) - that ranked among the top 400 recruits according to the publication. Montes De Oca was the third-highest ranked prospect to enter Division I this season. Baseball America described the class as `a frontline SEC-caliber class' and the publication goes on to tout the the pitchers in the 2014 class as all very projectable at the next level. In the Perfect Game rankings, Mizzou checks in at No. 22 nationally and ninth in the SEC.
NEW COACHES
Mizzou head baseball coach Tim Jamieson announced that Mizzou graduate and former Tiger All-American Hunter Mense has been promoted and will serve as the program's full time hitting coach. Mense, one of the brightest young minds in college baseball, had a very successful playing career both collegiately and at the next level. He has served as an undergraduate and graduate assistant over the last four seasons while completing his undergraduate degree and working towards his Master's degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in sport psychology at Mizzou.
During his last four years with Mizzou baseball, Mense established a great rapport with the Tiger hitters and also used his schooling in the field of sport psychology to work as a positive coach, assisting in the mental side of the Tigers' approach. With a pair of degrees and an All-America honor, Mense is a truly Mizzou Made addition to the Tiger coaching staff.
Coach Jamieson will now handle the pitchers, a role that has been a specialty for the Tiger skipper, who has mentored the likes of American League Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and other current Major Leaguers Aaron Crow (Royals), Kyle Gibson (Twins), Nick Tepesch (Rangers) and Matt Stites (Diamondbacks). Scherzer, Crow and Gibson were all first-round draft picks under Jamieson's tutelage. Crow was an All-Star pick for the Royals and Gibson was been one of the best pitchers for the Twins last season.
Additionally, former Tiger catcher Trevor Coleman has returned to Mizzou to serve as a graduate assistant manager. He was a freshman All-American and Big 12 Freshman of the Year during his playing days with the Tigers and will work with the Tiger hitters and catchers.
A LOOK AT THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION
Mizzou has put together a very competitive schedule in 2014. Most of that is due to the Tigers' SEC slate, which should bring plenty of excitement to Taylor Stadium. In fact, Mizzou plays 19 games, including six weekend series against teams that qualified for NCAA Regional action a season ago. Mizzou will also play weekend series against College World Series qualifiers Vanderbilt and Ole Miss. Of course, Vanderbilt won the NCAA Championship a season ago.
Looking deeper into the schedule, Mizzou is 150-136 all-time against this year's scheduled opponents.
LESTER, BONE WIN SUMMER LEAGUES
Two Mizzou baseball players - Josh Lester and Logan Bone - won championships with their respective Summer League teams last summer. Lester and the Y-D Red Sox won the Cape Cod League, which is often recognized as the top summer ball league on Aug. 15. Bone and the Quincy Gems also won the 2014 Prospect League Championship on Aug. 13.
Starting in the Cape, Lester hit .280 over eight games in the playoffs, notching a double, five runs and an RBI. He helped the Red Sox to a 10-4 win over Falmouth in game two of the championship series, completing the sweep. Lester hit .279 in 40 regular season games as well, notching four doubles while driving in 14 and scoring 16 runs. He also was second on the team with 15 walks.
Moving to the Prospects League, Bone played in 33 games from the Gems and hit .239 with a pair of doubles and a homer while scoring 13 runs and driving in 13 more. He had three runs and an RBI in the playoffs while playing in all six games.
Ks FOR K9s
The Mizzou baseball team has partnered with the Puppies With Purpose program for the 2015 season in an effort to help raise money for Columbia service dogs. The initiative, dubbed "K's for K9's," will allow fans to pledge a donation amount to be paid per strikeout during the 2015 season.
"I'm a dog lover," head coach Tim Jamieson said. "I've read more and more about dogs and actually researched whether or not there were places in Missouri that train dogs for this purpose and ironically find out that there's one in Columbia and one on Mizzou's campus. So it seemed like it was a really good fit and I introduced it to our players and they are really excited about it."
DETTMER INDUCTED INTO MIZZOU HOF
Former Mizzou standout John Dettmer will be inducted into the Mizzou Athletics Hall of Fame this year. Mizzou's all-time career strikeout leader who was durable in addition to his flame-throwing achievements for hall of fame Coach Gene McArtor...Won honorable mention All-American honors in 1991 when he turned in one of the top individual pitching seasons in MU history... Won nine games that year, and struck out 127 batters in 120.0 innings while leading the team with a 2.63 earned run average in a time where bats were very lively... Finished his Tiger career with 374 strikeouts, which stands still as the most in program history, while his 332.0 career innings pitched ranks second to this day, and his 23 career wins are also eighth-most... Won All-Big Eight first-team honors in 1990, 1991 and 1992, as he led the Tigers in strikeouts each year, with 99, 127 and 123, respectively... Turned in 15 complete games during his career as he was a durable and dependable presence on the mound... Went on to become an 11th-round draft pick in the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft by the Texas Rangers, and eventually pitched in 12 games in the Majors.
LLWS CONNECTION
For most little league players, the Little League World Series is the pinnacle. No Mizzou player knows that better than junior Josh Lester. Lester's team won the Little League World Series in 2006. He was even interviewed by Erin Andrews after winning the whole thing. His team kept that core group of players intact and went on to win three Georgia State Championships in high school.
TV SLATE
Mizzou baseball will be televised nine times through the Southeastern Conference and ESPN's television package this season, including three contests at Taylor Stadium. The television slate was announced Tuesday (Jan. 20) by the SEC league office. The nine games are more than double the amount of Mizzou games that were slated for national television last season. In all, the Tigers' nine TV games will all air on SEC Network with 38 additional SEC Network+ games on the schedule. All nine Mizzou games featured on the SEC Network will be against preseason top-25 competition.
ON THE AIR
Once again this year, KTGR ESPN Radio is the radio home of the Tigers, with all of the game being broadcast on 103.1-FM, 100.5-FM and 1580-AM. The games can also be heard online at KTGR.com. Tex Little is in his 25th season of calling Tiger Baseball and is joined in the booth by SID Shawn Davis for road games and Sean Hamel for home games.
FRANCIS HOWELL CONNECTION
This year, the Mizzou baseball roster features three players that have played together for quite sometime. Case Munson, Jake Ivory and Brett Peel all played high school ball for Francis Howell in St. Charles, Mo., winning a state championship together during their senior season.
NEW FACILITY FOR TIGERS
As the Mizzou baseball program continues its transition into the SEC, the Mizzou Department of Athletics made a major commitment to the program by spending $4 million on a new facility, including a new locker room, coaches offices and improved seating at Taylor Stadium. The new facility is one of the best baseball facilities in the nation and will give players all they need to succeed on site. A state-of-the-art lockerroom, modeled after many big league lockerrooms, along with a team room, an auditorium and training room have been added on site at Taylor Stadium. Also, increased bleachers have been added down the LF line and the old bucket seats have been replaced with new seat-back stadium seats in order to help with the comfort of fans. It officially opened to the public last May in a grand opening ceremony.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will return home for a pair of midweek games against Air Force on Tuesday and Wednesday at Taylor Stadium. For all the latest on Mizzou baseball, stay tuned to MUTiger.com and follow the team on twitter @MizzouBaseball.
