| Game | Location | Day/Time (CT) | Media |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs. Milwaukee | Taylor Stadium | Friday // 4 p.m. | Live Stats | Radio | Watch ESPN |
| vs. Milwaukee | Taylor Stadium | Saturday // 2 p.m. | Live Stats | Radio | Watch ESPN |
| vs. Milwaukee | Taylor Stadium | Sunday // 1 p.m. | Live Stats | Video | Watch ESPN |
Leading Off - Tweetables About the Weekend
• At 10-1, Mizzou is off to its best start since 1985 when the team won its first 14 games. The 10-1 record has Mizzou atop the SEC East standings, tied with defending SEC Champion Florida.
• Pitching has been the story (be sure to see pitching notes above) but the Tigers have also had plenty of timely hitting as well. Mizzou has won five one-run games, equaling their total from a year ago. Mizzou also has three walk-off wins (two via the homer) after having just two a season ago. Mizzou has also won three games when tied after eight innings, tripling its total from a year ago.
• With 10 wins, all away from home, Mizzou has equaled its win total in road/neutral games from 2014.
FastBalls - Quick Notes About the Pitching
• Mizzou leads the SEC in eight pitching categories:
- ERA (1.22)
- Opponent Batting (.171)
- Hits Allowed/Nine Innings (5.3)
- Runs Allowed (16)
- Walks Allowed (20)
- Complete Games (1)
- Saves (6)
- Shutouts (3)
• Mizzou has yet to allow more than three runs in a game this season and has given up just five runs (three earned) over their six-game winning streak.
• The Tigers are limiting opponents to just 1.45 runs per game this season.
• Mizzou's bullpen has allowed just three runs in 26.2 innings this season.
• Mizzou is second nationally in ERA at 1.22, trailing only national leader Charlotte (0.84).
• The Tiger pitching staff also leads the nation in WHIP and is third in hits allowed per nine innings.
• The Tigers also rank in the national top 10 in strikeout-walk ratio at seventh (4.15). That mark is second in the Southeastern Conference as well.
• Mizzou is fifth nationally in walks allowed.
RECAPPING LAST WEEKEND
The Tigers swept a three-game series with UIC in Millington, Tenn., last weekend, pushing their winning streak to six consecutive games. Junior Josh Lester hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth in game one of the series to back another sensational start by two-time reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week Reggie McClain. That was the first game of a Saturday doubleheader, and Mizzou won another one-run game in the nightcap - this time 2-1 behind strong pitching from freshman Tanner Houck and junior reliever Breckin Williams, who earned the win in game one and the save in game two. Houck earned his third win after allowing just six hits over 6.2 innings, striking out four and walking one while pushing his innings total to 19.1, second in the SEC. In game three of the series, Mizzou got a dominant pitching performance from Peter Fairbanks who tossed 7.1 innings, allowing just one unearned run while striking out eight - one off of his career-high - with no walks and just four hits in a 10-1 win. Mizzou scored seven runs over the seventh and eighth innings in that game as Fairbanks did a good job of keeping Mizzou in a close game until that point.
TIGERS OFF TO BEST START SINCE 1985
With their 10-1 mark on the young season, the Tigers are off to the best start by a Mizzou team since 1985 when the team won its first 14 games under head coach Gene McArtor. The 1985 team won 36 games.
PITCHING IS 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 leads the SEC in eight different pitching categories: ERA, opponent batting, hits allowed, runs allowed, walks allowed, complete games, saves and shutouts. Mizzou also leads the league in extra-base hits allowed (eight) - a stat that isn't officially kept by the SEC.
• MU leads the nation in WHIP, second in ERA
• Mizzou's starters have allowed just 13 runs (only 10 earned) in 69.1 innings this season, good for a 1.30 combined ERA.
• The bullpen has been even better, allowing just three runs in 26.2 innings, good for a 1.01 ERA. The core relievers - Breckin Williams, Austin Tribby and Andrew Schwaab - have surrendered just one earned run in 24.1 innings, good for an 0.37 ERA. That trio has allowed just seven hits in those 24.1 innings.
• Mizzou has yet to allow more than three runs in a game this season and has allowed just five over the last six games (only three of those five were earned).
• Every pitcher with at least two appearances has an ERA of 2.16 or less and seven pitchers check in at less than 2.00 while five have lower than 1.00.
• Mizzou's staff WHIP is 0.90, an SEC low. The Tigers have allowed just 86 base runners in 96.0 innings pitched.
• Mizzou has allowed just eight extra-base hits this season, just one every 12.0 innings. The bullpen has allowed just two of those eight extra-base hits. This time last year, Mizzou had allowed 18 extra-base hits.
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 24.1 innings and has allowed just seven hits in that span. In more than two full games of work, they have allowed just 15 baserunners and have 20 strikeouts. Williams leads the SEC in saves while Schwaab and Williams are limiting batters to .087 and .043 batting.
MIZZOU HALFWAY TO 2014 WIN TOTAL
While Mizzou's 10 wins may not resonate much nationally just yet, it is a big deal to the Tigers who are coming off of a 20-win season a year ago. Mizzou is already halfway to its win total from a season ago.
POWER SURGE
Mizzou blasted six 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 32 games to get to six home runs last year - a feat that took just 11 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 24 so far this season through 11 games. It took Mizzou 15 games to get 24 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.
THIEVERY
Mizzou is second in the SEC in with 20 steals this season, just one shy of Vanderbilt which has swiped 21 bags. The 20 is halfway to the Tigers' steal total from a season ago (40). All of last season no Tiger finished with more than eight steals. This season, senior Brett Peel has already reached that eight-steal mark, just one shy of the top mark in the SEC. He is 8-for-9 on the base paths this season.
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.
TOP TWO SPOTS GETTING ON BASE
Coach Jamieson has seemed to settle on the top two spots in his order so far, anchoring it with leadoff man Jake Ring and speedster Brett Peel. The two have combined to reach base in 40 percent of their plate appearances and have combined for 16 of the Tigers' 50 runs. Ring has reached base safely in 11 straight games while Peel has done so in eight. Peel also has three extra-base hits after not having one a year ago while Ring has five after posting just three in 2014.
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 host SIU-Edwardsville in a midweek contest before heading to Athens, Ga., for the start of SEC play against Georgia Bulldogs. For all the latest on Mizzou baseball, stay tuned to MUTiger.com and follow the team on twitter @MizzouBaseball.
