Starting 9
1) The Missouri State Bears (14-18, 0-6) hit the Missouri Valley Conference road this weekend with a three-game series at Valparaiso (13-19, 2-4). With poor weather forecast for Friday, the Bears and Beacons will play a noon doubleheader Saturday and conclude the series with a single game at noon Sunday.
2) The Bears have collected 122 extra base hits in 32 games and rank in the top 38 nationally in batting average (38th - .296), slugging (27th - .494) and scoring (32nd - 7.8). Missouri State has scored five or more runs in an inning 14 times this season.
3) Missouri State has hit five or more home runs in four games this season, has five different players with a multi-homer game, and has hit back-to-back long balls on four occasions.
4) Senior
Dakota Kotowski ranks 11th nationally with 14 home runs and 7th with 0.44 homers per game. He hit his 10th home run on March 20 in MSU's 18th game of the season. Only Jason Hart has reached double figures in fewer games, hitting his 10th in game 16 of the 1998 campaign.
5) In 13 true road games this season, Missouri State is hitting .300 and slugging .515 with 25 home runs and an 8.46 scoring average.
6) Missouri State has turned 29 double plays on the year to rank 35th nationally in total DPs and 22nd in per game average at 0.91.
7) The Bears are hitting .319 and average 4.5 runs against opposing relievers. Missouri State has scored more runs than games played in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings this season.
8) Missouri State owns a 13-1 series lead with the Beacons, winning the first 13 meetings before falling in the opening round of the MVC Tournament last season, 6-4 in 10 innings in Carbondale, Ill. MSU's only visit to Valparaiso came in 2018, with the Bears winning 6-5, 6-4 and 6-2.
9) Head coach
Keith Guttin picked up his 1,300th career victory on April 13, 2021 at Missouri. Guttin's troops beat the Tigers 7-5 in Columbia, and the 40th-year coach currently ranks third among active coaches and 18th overall with 1,323 career wins.
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