It's going to be very frustrating if they turn around and score five runs over the weekend against Baylor, but Mizzou figured out a way to unleash its frustration yesterday, scoring 14 runs in two innings on the way to an easy 20-5 win over Minnesota yesterday afternoon. Three of the most offensively bad offensive performers this season had huge games--Steve Gray (who I picked to break out majorly this year...and hasn't) went 3-for-6 with 3 RBIs and a double, Trevor Coleman went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and a HR, and Kyle Mach went 2-for-5 with 3 RBIs and a double. Nice game, guys. Now do it again. And then again. The Missourian has more about the success of the reshuffled lineup.
Johnny Wholestaff had a nice game as well, as only two of Mizzou's nine pitchers gave up an earned run. Overall, Mizzou has 28 games remaining and now probably needs to go 19-9 to position themselves for an NCAA bid. Lou Brown, you know what to do...
Meanwhile, Mizzou Softball needs no Lou Brown to get them moving forward. All they did was run-rule another ranked team yesterday, easily taking out #24 SIU 9-1. Stacy Delaney was untouchable and Mizzou hit another three HRs. They are now 34-5, 6-2 in the Big 12, and in a major rhythm on the mound and in the batter's box...hopefully they can keep this going for a while. The Missourian has more.
Quickly to football, where The Trib takes a look at some "familiar new faces" fighting it out with newbies for a starting job in the secondary.
Since the start of spring practice last month, Ricks has manned the No. 1 job at strong safety. Jackson, who started four games in the nickel package last year, is the top free safety and might stand as the group’s safest bet to nail down a starting job come September.
“I just feel so much more comfortable now,” Jackson said. “I’m not really worried about anything. I’m just relaxed back there. The speed of the game was something that was really different for me, but it’s slowed down a lot.”
Rookies, albeit promising ones, are running with the second unit. They are junior college transfer Jarrell Harrison (strong) and redshirt freshman Zaviar Gooden (free). An outbreak of hamstring injuries sidelined Jackson and Harrison for portions of yesterday’s practice, giving Howard a chance to work with the first-team defense.
And finally, to football recruiting, where PowerMizzou takes a look at Mizzou's top WR targets for the 2010 class. The #1 guy is actually coming for an unofficial visit soon. Of all the units where Mizzou could be poised to have a great class, it's at WR, where there's a lot of nearby talent (four 4-star guys) this year.
Oh yeah, and ZouDave...calling out ZouDave...