Sikkema awarded as Mizzou gets set to open SEC Tournament
Missouri softball may have packed it up for the summer, but the postseason is just getting started for Steve Bieser and the baseball squad.
The Tigers floundered to end the year, losing four in a row and falling to the No. 10 seed in the SEC Tournament. However, that didn’t stop the conference from awarding TJ Sikkema a high honor, making him the first Mizzou baseball player to make First-or-Second all-conference since Breckin Williams in 2015.
In 2019, Sikkema has solidified himself as one of the nation’s top pitchers. Heading into this week’s SEC Tournament, he possesses a 7-4 record with a sparkling 1.32 ERA. The Dewitt, Iowa, native has produced 101 strikeouts over 88.2 innings pitched and limited opposition to a miniscule .175 batting average.
It was a sterling year for Sikkema, who broke onto the scene as a freshman before enduring somewhat of a sophomore slump. Luckily for Tiger fans, Sikkema will likely still need another year of seasoning to prove his consistency as a starter — that is, unless an MLB team really believes his potential and blows him away during this year’s draft.
We’re still a ways away from that, however, and the Tigers still have ball to play. They’re kicking off the SEC Tournament today against No. 7 seeded Ole Miss Rebels, and the format is a bit complicated.
Mizzou’s Tuesday matchup vs. Ole Miss is part of the SEC Tournament’s single elimination bracket. With a victory over the Rebels, the Tigers would advance to a double elimination bracket starting Wednesday afternoon against No. 2 seed Arkansas.
If the Tigers lose, they’ll await their fate during the NCAA Selection Show next Monday. Win or lose, Bieser’s team has a good shot of getting in, but a few wins would behoove them to be sure.
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