Tigers Set to Tussle with the Gamecocks

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri baseball (15-7, 1-5 SEC) hosts South Carolina (12-12, 2-4 SEC) in a key SEC series beginning Friday, April 1 at Taylor Stadium. First pitch in the series opener is set for 6 p.m.

All three games of the series will stream on SEC Network +. Game two of the series is slated for a 2 p.m. start on Saturday and the finale a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.

Fans can also catch Mizzou baseball on the airwaves all season long on KTGR and the Tiger Radio Network. Tex Little and Matt Michaels will have the call.

TICKETS

Single game tickets for Mizzou baseball begin at just $8 for adult general admission seats and $10 for reserved chairbacks.

To purchase season or single-game tickets, visit MUTigers.com/Tickets.

PITCHING PROBABLES

Friday – RHP Spencer Miles (2-1, 6.04 ERA) vs. RHP Noah Hall (0-4, 7.64 ERA)

Saturday – LHP Tony Neubeck (2-1, 5.00 ERA) vs. RHP Will Sanders (4-1, 3.44 ERA)

Sunday – RHP Austin Marozas (0-0, 4.73 ERA) vs. LHP Matthew Becker (1-1, 3.74 ERA)

SERIES BUSINESS

• East division foes Mizzou and South Carolina meet for the 28th time in Friday’s series opener. The Gamecocks lead the all-time series 16-11.
• The Tigers have found success at home with an 8-4 record against South Carolina in Taylor Stadium, including a three-game sweep of the Gamecocks in their last trip to CoMo in 2019.
• Mizzou has won five straight at home against SC.

IN THE MIDWEEK

• Mizzou piled up 11 runs on 12 hits Tuesday night to take home Braggin’ Rights in the rivalry matchup against Illinois. The Tigers also took the all-time series lead 15-14-1.
• The black & gold got home runs from Fox Leum and Torin Montgomery, their first of the season, to power past the Illini. Leum’s homer left the confines of GCS Credit Union Ballpark, clearing a 25-foot retaining wall beyond the right field berm, and gave Mizzou the lead for good after an early Illinois tally.
• Montgomery finished the day 4-for-4 with a career-high four RBI. All four of his RBI came with two outs as the Tigers plated six runs with two away.
• The Tigers followed their Braggin’ Rights performance with a 12-2 run-rule win over SIUE on Wednesday.
• Mizzou drew 16 walks to score 12 runs on just four hits in the win over the Cougars. Eight of the nine Tigers in the lineup drew a free pass in the game.
• Nander De Sedas continued his hot streak with a 1-for-2 night and three RBI to pace the Tigers.

PEÑA’S PRODUCTION

• Freshman Carlos Peña recorded a hit and RBI in all three games of the Tigers’ series vs. No. 3 Arkansas.
• Peña finished the weekend 5-for-13 (.385) with four RBI and a pair of runs scored.
• The rookie has produced an RBI in each of the last five games entering the weekend.
• On the season, Peña has 19 RBI, the most by a Tiger freshman since Kameron Misner and Chris Cornelius posted 34 and 31 in 2017, respectively.
• Peña’s 19 RBI are tied for the team lead and included eight two-out RBI as the rookie has delivered in pressure situations.

NEUBECK MOVES TO ROTATION

• Freshman Tony Neubeck has continued his impressive start to his collegiate career, moving into a starting role last weekend against No. 3 Arkansas.
• Neubeck, who burst onto the scene over the fall, had established himself as one of the Tigers’ most reliable relievers in the non-conference schedule with a 2.79 ERA through five appearances.
• In his first start, the lefty went 4.0 IP and allowed four runs in four, three earned, but all four followed a 2-out pop up which was lost in the sun.

SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS

• An enigmatic squad, South Carolina has two of the most impressive series victories on the season over Texas and Vanderbilt, however, the Gamecocks enter the weekend just 12-12 overall.
• The Gamecocks sit at the bottom of the SEC offensively with a .271 batting average and 138 runs scored (5.75/game).
• Andrew Eyster keys the South Carolina lineup with a .366 average and team-leading 27 RBI. He’s tied for the team lead with four homers.
• On the mound, standout Will Sanders leads the rotation with a 4-1 mark and 3.44 ERA. As a team, the Gamecocks sit at the bottom of the league with a 5.30 ERA.

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-MUTigers.com-