Another tough MVC opponent is on our plate this weekend, as ISU travels to Springfield, Missouri. From my viewpoint, the Bears are tougher than last year when we took two out of three in Terre Haute, but perhaps not quite the team they were when they swept us at their yard in 2009.
Here's an interesting portion of the write-up from missouribears.com:
Nine things to know about the Bears against Indiana State...
1. Missouri State state leads the all-time series with ISU by a 54-35 margin. The road team won 16 of 17 games in the series between 2003 and 2008, though that trend has reversed the last two years with MSU sweeping at Hammons Field in 2009 and the Sycamores winning two of three in Terre Haute last season. The Bears are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings between the schools.
2. MSU's offense has hit at least .300 against 11 of the 19 teams the Bears have played this season while registering at least eight hits in all but four contests.
3. Missouri State is 11-6 this year in games decided by one or two runs.
4. Missouri State went 19-11 through 30 games, the eighth time since 1995 the Bears have won at least 19 times in their first 30 tries. MSU has had great success the previous seven times, averaging 38 wins per season, posting an average MVC finish of 2.0 while making four NCAA Tournament appearances. The Bears also won two of their first three league games for the 14th time in 21 MVC seasons. The previous 13 times have resulted in an average league finish of 2.46.
5. Missouri State has won its first two MVC series of the season for the eighth time since joining the league in 1991, and the fourth time in the last six seasons. The Bears have finished second twice and won the league once following the previous three times, and have averaged an MVC finish of 2.29 over the course of all seven occurrences.
6. Missouri State is hitting .318 against opposing starting pitchers and outscoring opponents 30-13 in the first inning. Starters have a 5.59 ERA against the Bears and average just 4.78 innings per start.
7. Missouri State's offense is hitting .308 this season, moving from last to first in the MVC and jumping 250 spots to 30th in the national rankings as of April 17, the largest improvement of any team in the country.
8. MSU has collected 13 pinch hits in 35 tries this season for a .371 average, while the opposition has a mere two pinch hits in 31 games and is batting .100 in those situations.
9. Keith Guttin is now 20 wins shy of the 1,000 mark in his 29th season at Missouri State.
As you can see, the Bears have a potent offense that can strike early. Her's more interesting tidbits about MSU:
Quick Hits
• Missouri State closed the month of February with a winning record (4-3) for the fourth time in the 2000s. The Bears have gone on to win at least 40 games the other three times. MSU also had a winning February record in 1999, and though it failed to reach 40 wins, it did go 38-19 and make the NCAA Tournament.
• Juniors Travis McComack and Kevin Medrano have started 110 games together on the middle infield in their careers and rank 10th (85) and 11th (81), respectively, in career double plays turned. The duo has worked together for 53 of those double plays.
• Missouri State has struck out 212 times in its first 35 games, or 6.23 per nine innings, a 30.9 percent decrease from its 2010 rate.
• Fourteen of the 27 players on Missouri State's roster did not see action for the Bears last season, and 12 of those are new to the program altogether.
• The Bears went 29.2 innings from March 15-19 without allowing an earned run, and went 14 innings over three games from Feb. 26 to Mar. 1 without issuing a walk.
• Missouri State is holding opponents to a .248 batting average with runners in scoring position.
On the mound Friday afternoon for MSU will be their ace, Nick Petree (5-0, 2.77 ERA). On the season, Petree has pitched 52 inninings, giving up 14 walks and striking out 49. Opposing batters have a .230 average. As you can see, he has good control. In fact he has had five appearances in relief with two saves as well. Dan Kickham is the closer. He has allowed no earned runs in his 14 appearances and has 8 saves.
ISU's ace, Colin Rea (6-2, 3.39 ERA), who had a mediocre outing last week, will be looking to show his sharp stuff Friday. And we'll need a sharp outing against this team...no freebies (walks/hit batters) and scattering hits.
Friday's game could be another pitcher's duel unless one team or the other can get to the opposing pitcher early.
Weatherwise, at the 3:30 (ET) it is looking iffy once again as scattered thunderstorms are possible during the game (and throughout the day, too). The gametime temp will be around 74-degrees with gusty southwest winds at around 20 mph. Scattered thunderstorms are also possible Saturday and Sunday. Welcome to the midwest in the spring!!
Lots of media opportunities for Friday's game. You can listen to the game on AM-1300 ESPN Radio or online, follow the Twitter feed, view live stats and follow the on-going blog during the game.
Here's an interesting portion of the write-up from missouribears.com:
Nine things to know about the Bears against Indiana State...
1. Missouri State state leads the all-time series with ISU by a 54-35 margin. The road team won 16 of 17 games in the series between 2003 and 2008, though that trend has reversed the last two years with MSU sweeping at Hammons Field in 2009 and the Sycamores winning two of three in Terre Haute last season. The Bears are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings between the schools.
2. MSU's offense has hit at least .300 against 11 of the 19 teams the Bears have played this season while registering at least eight hits in all but four contests.
3. Missouri State is 11-6 this year in games decided by one or two runs.
4. Missouri State went 19-11 through 30 games, the eighth time since 1995 the Bears have won at least 19 times in their first 30 tries. MSU has had great success the previous seven times, averaging 38 wins per season, posting an average MVC finish of 2.0 while making four NCAA Tournament appearances. The Bears also won two of their first three league games for the 14th time in 21 MVC seasons. The previous 13 times have resulted in an average league finish of 2.46.
5. Missouri State has won its first two MVC series of the season for the eighth time since joining the league in 1991, and the fourth time in the last six seasons. The Bears have finished second twice and won the league once following the previous three times, and have averaged an MVC finish of 2.29 over the course of all seven occurrences.
6. Missouri State is hitting .318 against opposing starting pitchers and outscoring opponents 30-13 in the first inning. Starters have a 5.59 ERA against the Bears and average just 4.78 innings per start.
7. Missouri State's offense is hitting .308 this season, moving from last to first in the MVC and jumping 250 spots to 30th in the national rankings as of April 17, the largest improvement of any team in the country.
8. MSU has collected 13 pinch hits in 35 tries this season for a .371 average, while the opposition has a mere two pinch hits in 31 games and is batting .100 in those situations.
9. Keith Guttin is now 20 wins shy of the 1,000 mark in his 29th season at Missouri State.
As you can see, the Bears have a potent offense that can strike early. Her's more interesting tidbits about MSU:
Quick Hits
• Missouri State closed the month of February with a winning record (4-3) for the fourth time in the 2000s. The Bears have gone on to win at least 40 games the other three times. MSU also had a winning February record in 1999, and though it failed to reach 40 wins, it did go 38-19 and make the NCAA Tournament.
• Juniors Travis McComack and Kevin Medrano have started 110 games together on the middle infield in their careers and rank 10th (85) and 11th (81), respectively, in career double plays turned. The duo has worked together for 53 of those double plays.
• Missouri State has struck out 212 times in its first 35 games, or 6.23 per nine innings, a 30.9 percent decrease from its 2010 rate.
• Fourteen of the 27 players on Missouri State's roster did not see action for the Bears last season, and 12 of those are new to the program altogether.
• The Bears went 29.2 innings from March 15-19 without allowing an earned run, and went 14 innings over three games from Feb. 26 to Mar. 1 without issuing a walk.
• Missouri State is holding opponents to a .248 batting average with runners in scoring position.
On the mound Friday afternoon for MSU will be their ace, Nick Petree (5-0, 2.77 ERA). On the season, Petree has pitched 52 inninings, giving up 14 walks and striking out 49. Opposing batters have a .230 average. As you can see, he has good control. In fact he has had five appearances in relief with two saves as well. Dan Kickham is the closer. He has allowed no earned runs in his 14 appearances and has 8 saves.
ISU's ace, Colin Rea (6-2, 3.39 ERA), who had a mediocre outing last week, will be looking to show his sharp stuff Friday. And we'll need a sharp outing against this team...no freebies (walks/hit batters) and scattering hits.
Friday's game could be another pitcher's duel unless one team or the other can get to the opposing pitcher early.
Weatherwise, at the 3:30 (ET) it is looking iffy once again as scattered thunderstorms are possible during the game (and throughout the day, too). The gametime temp will be around 74-degrees with gusty southwest winds at around 20 mph. Scattered thunderstorms are also possible Saturday and Sunday. Welcome to the midwest in the spring!!
Lots of media opportunities for Friday's game. You can listen to the game on AM-1300 ESPN Radio or online, follow the Twitter feed, view live stats and follow the on-going blog during the game.
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