The Missouri State baseball team (4-7) hosts South Dakota State (1-9) Tuesday and Wednesday at Hammons Field to close its six-game homestand. First pitch for both games is 3 p.m. The Bears lost two home games last week but rebounded Saturday and Sunday to defeat North Dakota and claim the weekend series.
THE OPPONENTSouth Dakota State is 1-9 on the year with its lone win coming over Murray State in the third game of the season. The Jackrabbits hit .283 on the season, with Joel Blake leading the charge with a .410 average. Five Jacks currently hit above .300.
The SDSU pitching staff has a 7.11 ERA, and reliever Korby Morsching has accumulated a 2.13 ERA over six appearances thus far. SDSU fields .963 as a team.
THE SERIESMissouri State is 2-1 all-time versus South Dakota State, taking a weekend series from the Jackrabbits in 2007. MSU won by scores of 5-1 and 11-1 but lost the Sunday game 6-3.
LIVE STATS INFORMATIONLive stats for most Missouri State baseball games will be available at www.missouristatebears.com. Go to the “Fan Central” link on the left side of the page and select “Live Stats.”
AUDIO COVERAGETuesday's game with South Dakota State will be broadcast in Springfield on KBFL 1060 AM and online at www.radiospringfield.com.
COACH KEITH GUTTINMissouri State head coach
Keith Guttin (Missouri-St. Louis, 1978) is in his 27th season as head coach of the baseball Bears and has a career record of 908-560 (.619). Guttin became the first coach at Missouri State (in any sport) to reach the 900-win mark with the May 11, 2008, win over Middle Tennessee at Hammons Field. In 2003, Guttin led the Bears to the NCAA Division I College World Series for the first time in school history. Guttin has been a conference Coach of the Year 10 times with four of those coming in the Valley and six coming during the Bears’ years in the Mid-Continent Conference. During Guttin’s tenure, the Bears have made seven Division I NCAA Tournament appearances -- six in the last 14 years.
LAST WEEKThe Bears went 2-2 at home last week, opening with a pair of tough late-game losses. On Wednesday, Central Arkansas took a 4-3 win in 10 innings, and the Bears allowed six runs with two out in the ninth inning Friday in a 10-7 loss to North Dakota.
Missouri State rebounded Saturday behind six shutout innings from
Buddy Baumann for an 8-0 win over UND. Baumann and
J.C. Casey combined for a two-hitter, while
Trevor Rogers had three hits and four RBIs in his first career start.
On Sunday,
Aaron Meade allowed a run over six innings and the Bears pounded out 16 hits in an 8-2 victory over the Fighting Sioux.
QUICK HITS
Brayden Drake is currently on a 20-game hitting streak, the fifth longest in school history and longest since Dant'e Brinkley hit safely in 20 straight in 2003.
Drake had two separate 15-game hitting streaks and an 11-gamer in 2008, and has at least one hit in 55 of his last 62 games. He is two hits away from 200 for his career.
Tim Clubb suffered his first loss since April 22, 2007, in the opener at Middle Tennessee, a streak of 18 appearances, 16 starts and 13 winning decisions.
Clubb has left 18 of his last 20 starts in line for the victory.
Buddy Baumann has started the 2009 season with 11 scoreless innings and has allowed just three singles thus far for an .086 opponent average. No baserunner has advanced beyond second base on Baumann this season.
Aaron Conway is on a nine-game hitting streak and already has 12 RBIs in 46 at bats, compared to seven RBIs in 74 at bats a year ago.
Missouri State has not been shut out since a visit to Creighton on May 17, 2007, a stretch of 73 consecutive games.
Opposing starters have posted an 7.69 ERA against the Bears this season.
