Saturday Live Thread: Two Steps Away For Mizzou Baseball and Softball

So we're in an odd situation this Saturday morning: both Mizzou Baseball and Mizzou Softball are in a "win two of three" situation.

Softball: Two Wins Away From WCWS

Post-Dispatch: Mizzou faces stiff challenge against Huskies
The Missourian: Missouri softball seniors see no end in sight
KC Star: In any role, Schweisberger contributes to Mizzou softball

Washington is not going to be cowed or intimidated playing at University Field; they've been in these situations before.  I see them as a more seasoned version of DePaul, a team that is salty and talented and isn't going to give Mizzou anything. If the Tigers play well, they're the better team, but if they make mistakes, they're in trouble. Luckily they got all their mistakes out of their system last Saturday afternoon, eh?

Big 12 Results
Texas A&M loses series to Arizona State, 2-0 (3-2 on Thursday, 4-2 yesterday)
Oklahoma State leads Houston, 1-0 (3-0 yesterday)
Oklahoma leads Arizona, 1-0 (6-0 yesterday)

Big 12 Schedule
Houston at Oklahoma State, Game Two (1:30pm, ESPNU)
Oklahoma at Arizona, Game Two (4:00pm, ESPN)
Baylor at Georgia, Game One (6:30pm, ESPNU)
Washington at Mizzou, Game One (8:00pm, ESPN2)

So Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are looking good, and Baylor and Mizzou get started today.

Baseball: Two Wins Away From NCAA Regionals

The Trib: Missouri eyes one vs. Texas
SimmonsField.com: Big 12 Tournament: MU vs. UT

This really couldn't have set up any better for the Tigers. Texas was saving Taylor Jungmann, who might be the best MLB prospect ever from the Big 12, for their second game, hoping others could get them past Mizzou and Jungmann could keep them undefeated to Saturday. Instead, Mizzou knocked off the 'Horns, Jungmann was used to shut down Baylor, and now Mizzou has gotten a day of rest as Texas had to take out Oklahoma State yesterday.  So Mizzou plays Texas, bright and early, at 9am today; if they win, they're in tomorrow's single-elimination finals, and if they lose, they play again at 4pm.  Honestly, Texas is probably still as likely to win two as Mizzou is to win one, but Mizzou wasn't likely to win the first two in this tournament either. Two wins in the next 32 hours or so, and Mizzou's NCAA tourney drought ends at just one.

Frank Haith's A Good Person

PowerMizzou: Haith helps in Joplin

I've got to say ... the university has come together so beautifully during the Joplin situation.  KOMU raised $1,000,000 via telethon, the athletic department raised a ton via T-shirt sales and loaded up donations in a semi, and Frank Haith went down there with the semi.

Mizzou Basketball spokesman Dave Reiter said this campaign for United For Joplin raised approximately 300 stuffed animals.

"We ended up having to take my truck down there as well since our 18-passenger van was filled up with "stuff" for Joplin," said Reiter. "Incredible effort by our campus for donations and Tiger fans in general."

The new Tiger coach said he was inspired when he watched the first images of the disaster on television Sunday night. The next day, he sent a text to Mike Alden volunteering to help.

"I wanted to be a part of this because it's in our state."

There is plenty of time to find out what kind of coach Frank Haith is; in the interim, however, he's certainly gone about proving what kind of person he is.

Today's Schedule

9:00 AM

Mizzou Baseball: Mizzou vs Texas (Video Here)

4:00 PM

Mizzou Baseball: Mizzou vs Texas If Necessary (Video Here)

8:00 PM

Mizzou Softball: Washington at Mizzou (ESPN2)