Missouri State

At Missouri State: Josh Mazzola will take over the first base duties full-time after making 24 starts there a year ago, and will also provide another powerful bat in the heart of the lineup.

2007: Saw time in 42 games with 24 starts at first base ... Started the final 13 games of the year, and finished his junior campaign with a .246 batting average, four homers and 17 RBIs ... Hit the game-winning sacrifice fly versus Dallas Baptist (2/22) ... Smacked his first homer of the season versus Saint Louis (3/28) ... Had two hits and scored three times against Southeast Missouri State (4/3) ... Went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored against No. 9 Arkansas (4/18) ... Had two sacrifice flies and drove in three runs at Evansville (5/6) ... Went 1-for-3 and homered at Kansas (5/9) ... Went 3-for-5 and scored a run in the MVC Tournament win over Wichita State (5/23).

Background: Mazzola came to Missouri State from Grossmont Community College in El Cajon, Calif., where he was a two-time first-team all-Pacific Coast Conference selection ... Hit .344 with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs in 48 games as a sophomore, and collected a total of 29 extra base hits in 48 games ... Mazzola's power numbers put him in some elite company, as his 15 dingers rank second in league history behind only Marcus Giles of the San Diego Padres ... Mazzola was a four-year starter at third base for the Santana High Sultans, and also competed in football as a defensive back and receiver.

Personal: Josh Mazzola was born April 10, 1986, to Mike Mazzola and Debbie Haeussinger in San Diego, Calif. ... He has one sister, Amy ... Majoring in communications.