Missouri tonight! (Game thread)

[commadore]

This series could be what defines our season. We are already off to a great start, but Missouri is not Georgia or MSU or Ole Miss. If we can take this series or, better yet sweep, it will really establish us for the SEC tourney.

Some things will change this weekend. LSU is at South Carolina and Florida is at ewetee. We really need for LSU and ewetee to take the series. Kentucky is at Georgia and with the Dawgs bats anything can happen. Hopefully they can take two.

Game time is at 6:00. Listen in and root for the Dores.

[Versus75]

Mizzou 3-0 at home in SEC (swept UT)

0-6 on the road.

Mizzou home for this series and likely very hungry for a Win.

[charlestonalum]

This is, indeed, a very important series, and if we continue to pitch, field and hit we can get at least 2 of 3, but that is a big IF, I know. Go Dores!

[Versus75]

I was just reading the Game Notes:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http ... ssouri.pdf

And looked at the box scores from Missouri's three SEC series.

The only reliable starter is Chandler Murphy, a redshirt Junior (listed as Senior) RHP who played at Arizona last year and registered a 9.73 ERA in 28 2/3 innings. He is better this year and was the Friday starter versus UT and South Carolina. Then last weekend, with Missouri perhaps hoping to steal one win per weekend with its #1 starter, he started the Sunday game.

In 3 SEC starts, Murphy has a 4.02 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 15 2/3 innings with 11 hits, 7 walks, 11 strikeouts.

The former Saturday starter, lefty Ian Lohse, was benched after lasting just 2 1/3 innings in two SEC starts. The Tigers pitched a committee against Kentucky last Saturday.

The other SEC starter, Austin Troesser, didn't fare much better. Three SEC starts, 8 1/3 innings total, 6 earned runs. But he did strike out 15 in his 8+ innings.

Apparently, he has also been sent to the bullpen unless he changed his name to TBA -- the projected starter for Saturday.

Freshman RHP Logan Lunceford is slated for tonight's game. Lunceford has been impressive versus non-conference opponents. He has 5 appearances (3 starts) overall with a 2.82 ERA and 36 K's in 22 1/3 innings.

Mizzou Stats:
https://mutigers.com/documents/2023/4/2 ... _19-9_.pdf


By the way, Missouri has been off since the Kentucky series so we may see another usual midweek starter in action.

Among them is Rorik Maltrud who has made 4 relief appearances in SEC games: 9 2/3 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 4 BB, 17 K's. The righthander is a 5th year player who previously played for Grayson College and New Mexico State University.

~~~


The hitters? Not great in SEC play. Cumulative average .223 with 5 home runs in the 9 games. Only regular batter above .300 is Luke Mann who has 3 of the round-trippers and .313 BA / .476 OBP / .656 Slugging

[Go Vandy!]

1-0 mid 1st. I'm happy. Uh oh.

[Versus75]

Holton getting a week off.

Bryce Cunningham on the mound.

Luke Mann has another home run!

[blackgold61]

What did I miss? Where is Carter Holton?

[Levon]

Holton getting a week off.

Bryce Cunningham on the mound.

Luke Mann has another home run!

Dude hit an absolute rocket on a pitch right in the heart of the plate. Good hitters punish that pitch. He's a good hitter.

[Levon]

What did I miss? Where is Carter Holton?

Aria Gerson reported Corbs saying that Holton was experiencing soreness and was being held out tonight as a precaution. Let's hope that's all it is.

[Levon]

Nice 2nd inning for frosh Mizzou pitcher...3-up-3-down, all Ks. Sweet slow breaking ball.

[Levon]

Strike zone is tight, tonight, especially on fastballs. Both pitchers have had 3-4 fastballs that looked like strikes called balls. Cunningham up to 40 pitches with 2 outs in 2nd.

[admin]

Not getting many of the borderline calls.

[Levon]

Nice 2nd inning for frosh Mizzou pitcher...3-up-3-down, all Ks. Sweet slow breaking ball.

Ditto in 3rd inning. His breaking ball has Vandy hitters completely off balance. Long way to go.

[Levon]

Not getting many of the borderline calls.

He has not, but Cunningham hasn't been terribly sharp. Still, only one run through three. Be lucky to get four innings out of him tonight

[blackgold61]

Looks like the pen is going to get some work tonight

[Levon]

While this ump is stingy on calling fastballs strikes, he loves him some breaking balls. If they're anywhere near the plate, he rings up emphatic strike calls.

[Go Vandy!]

3-1! NICE!

[admin]

"Maldonado delivers again." 3-1 Vandy

[Levon]

"Maldonado delivers again." 3-1 Vandy

On an 0-2 pitch at that. Maldo the Younger is excellent at protecting the plate, sat on the inevitable breaking ball and took it right back up the middle. Dude's a hitter.

[Levon]

Looks like the pen is going to get some work tonight

Mizzou pen, too. Starter at 96 pitches thru 5.