Tigers wrap up successful homestand
Two weeks ago, the Missouri baseball team began its longest home stand of the season with its home opener against Western Illinois. The Tigers have gone 8-1 since and are currently on a five-game winning streak.
After an inconsistent start to the year in invitationals, the Tigers have clicked just in time for conference action this Friday. Defensively, they have recorded two shutouts since coming home and allowed just more than two runs per game.
The Tigers’ story at the plate is even more impressive. The Tigers are averaging nearly 10 runs per game in the nine-game home stand, mostly thanks to a 28-2 blowout over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Wednesday. The game, which was the last of the homestand, was mercy-ruled after seven innings.
Recently, much of that scoring has come in the form of homers. The Tigers have roped 11 home runs in their past five games after hitting nine in the 13 prior games.
With the Tigers producing with the sticks, coach Tim Jamieson is more concerned with their pitching heading into Friday.
“The one concern that I have is our starting pitching,” Jamieson said. “That’s something we still haven’t decided on for the weekend.”
Missouri’s relief pitchers have been more successful, and Jamieson has confidence in his bullpen as long as the starters do their job.
“All the starters have to do is get us to the middle of the game with a chance to win it,” Jamieson said. “Our bullpen can shut anybody down.”
The Tigers have a busy couple of weeks up next, with 13 games on the schedule in the next 17 days. In addition to Texas A&M this weekend, Missouri will take on conference foes Baylor and Oklahoma in that span.
Missouri will play the Aggies in three games this weekend, starting Friday at 6:35 p.m.