Lincoln University of Missouri

BLUE TIGERS POUND AGGIES

In a momentum gaining series win April 6-7 over Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Lincoln University outscored the opposition 35-10.  The Blue Tigers are now 11-28 overall and 7-17 in Heartland Conference play.

The Blue Tigers dropped the series opener 3-2 on April 6, but came back to win the second game 17-1.  The 17 runs scored are the second highest runs produced in a game by the Blue Tigers this season.  In the first game Adam Patch (3-5) took the loss allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits in seven strong innings.  Two of the three Aggies runs scored because of errors committed by the Blue Tigers.  Ben Neuner (1-5) got his first win of the season in game two, 17-1.  The Aggies broke through with a run in the top of the seventh inning to deny Neuner the second complete game shutout of his collegiate career.

   Lincoln University received a complete game from Matt Rose (3-4) in a 9-1 victory to begin play, April 7.  The Blue Tigers finished off the Easter weekend quadruple header by fending off the Aggies 7-5. In his first collegiate start, David Fall (1-0) pitched five innings to gain his first collegiate win.

   The three game win streak is the first of the season for the Blue Tigers.  It is the first series victory for the Blue Tigers since April 28-30, 2006 when they won three Heartland Conference games at home over the Aggies.

GIVE HIM SOME PROTECTION

    In an average start of 4.2 innings, the Blue Tigers are struggling to provide Patch run support.  Of the 54.2 innings thrown by Patch, the Blue Tigers have provided him with 42 runs, including 14 in a 14-2 road blowout of Oklahoma Panhandle.  In the 11 games Patch has pitched, the Blue Tigers are contributing 3.8 runs per game.  When taking away the 14 run game, that runs per game figure dips to 2.5 runs per game.  In the eight games where Patch has been the pitcher of record, the Blue Tigers have generated 4.1 runs per game.  An analysis of those eight contests reveals that the Blue Tigers are 0-3 in games decided by three runs or less, but 3-2 in victories of four runs or more. 

   Overall when the Blue Tigers score six runs or better, they are 11-7.  Lincoln University has a 0-21 mark when they score five runs or less.

ON DECK

   Lincoln University and Montana State University-Billings begin a four-game series, April 13-14.  First pitch both days is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CST on Cobb Field in Billings, Mont.  The overall series record between the Blue Tigers and Yellowjackets is 6-6.  The action on April 13 is the home opener for the Yellowjackets, who have had their last eight games cancelled due to weather.  The last time the Yellowjackets (16-14, 9-11) played, they took three of four Heartland Conference games from the Blue Tigers on the LU Baseball Field, March 23-24.  Both the Blue Tigers and Yellowjackets are on three-game win streaks.

   The Yellowjackets were 10-16 at home in 2006, but lost both ends of their home opening doubleheader to Northwest Nazarene (Nampa, Idaho) on March 17, 2006.  Of the Yellowjackets 22 homes in 2006 more than a combined 10 runs were scored in 41 percent (13) of the games.  Thirteen of the games saw at least one team reach double digits in runs, while both teams hit the mark twice.  The Blue Tigers went 3-1 on Cobb Field against the Yellowjackets in 2006 winning by an average score of 9-8. 

   Cobb Field is home of the Billings Mustangs.  The Mustangs are a Pioneer League (Rookie) affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.  Former College World Series players Danny Dorn (California State University, Fullerton) and Drew Stubbs (University of Texas at Austin) played for the Mustangs in 2006.

   The road to becoming Major League stars began in Billings, Mont. for George Brett, Reggie Sanders, Paul O’Neill, Keith Lockhart, Danny Tartabull, Ben Broussard, Scott Sullivan, Aaron Boone, Adam Dunne, Austin Kearns and B.J. Ryan.

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