At Missouri State: A two-year letterman and one of the most durable pitchers on the staff, junior Jake Shafer will again see time as a starter and a reliever in 2007. He has 15 career starts and 28 appearances to his credit, and has struck 85 batters in his Missouri State career.
2006: The versatile Shafer made nine starts and 16 appearances, finishing 4-4 with a 4.88 ERA over 62.2 innings pitched ... Struck out 53 batters against just 22 walks ... Tossed a complete-game four-hit shutout against Illinois State (5/14), fanning a season-best seven Redbirds ... Also earned wins against Saint Louis (3/29), Arkansas (4/4) and Indiana State (5/20) ... Went five or more innings eight times, including a six-inning relief appearance versus Indiana State (5/20) ... Tossed six innings of shutout ball against Arkansas (4/11), striking out five hitters in the no decision ... Totaled four strikeouts in two innings at Bradley (4/30) ... Had at least one strikeout in all but one outing, and had five or more on six occasions.
2005: Shafer appeared in 12 games for the Bears in his first season on the mound ... He had a 1-3 record, and an 8.31 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched ... He allowed 28 earned runs, 31 walks and struck out 32 batters ... Shafer suffered an injury at mid-season but rebounded for four solid outings late in the season, including a start against Southeast Missouri State (5/18), where he gave up three runs in 7.0 innings pitched for his first win of the season, striking out a career-high 10 ... Shafer played in 11 games for St. Cloud in the Northwoods League during the summer, posting a 1.90 ERA.
Background: Shafer joined the Bears after an outstanding high school career for Troy (Mo.) Buchanan High ... He helped lead the Trojans to a school record 21 wins in 2004, and Troy had 52 wins in his three years as a starter ... As a senior, Shafer was 5-2 with a 2.10 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 39.2 innings of work. During the summer of 2004, Shafer played for the Troy American Legion team, compiling 64 strikeouts in 37 innings for a 4-1 record ... He was 8-0 as a junior and had six saves as a sophomore at Troy Buchanan High.
Personal: Jacob William Shafer was born October 11, 1985, to Danny and Marilyn Shafer, in Creve Coeur, Mo. ... He has three brothers, Aaron, Adam and Luke ... Aaron is a sophomore at Wichita State and earned 2006 MVC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year honors last season ... Jake is majoring in public relations at Missouri State.
