Mizzou Softball: Columbia Regional Preview

Well, we've reached the postseason. Mizzou is the 15 seed, and therefore hosting a regional yet again. This year, BYU, Nebraska, and Louisville are joining the TIgers in CoMo for a round-robin, double-elimination mini-tourney. The winner will most likely be traveling to Michigan for a date with the Wolverines.

In the interest of fairness, I've included an evaluation of Mizzou in the same format I've looked at the three visitors. If you are a casual/new fan, this might be nice for you! If you are a diehard, enjoy marveling yet again at some of these numbers.

And, of course, please remember to visit and pledge (if you can) to the RMN Tremendous Stubble Drive. It's not only fun but it's also a good way to alleviate your guilt over spending so much time on the internet.

BYU -€” 35-19 (12-3 in West Coast Conference play)

Record against ranked teams: 2-8

• L -€” 15-3 vs. #8 Tennessee
• L -€” 4-2 (8) vs. #24 Notre Dame
• L -€” 9-4 vs. #10 UCLA
• L -€” 16-6 vs. #12 Missouri
• W -€” 4-2 vs. #15 Arizona
• L -€” 6-3 vs. #15 Arizona
• L -€” 10-6 vs. #10 James Madison
• L -€” 8-0 (5) vs. #13 Oklahoma
• L -€” 3-0 vs. #13 Oklahoma
• W -€” 6-3 vs. #24 Fresno St.

Team Batting: .298/.384/.480, 193 BB/246 K, 56 HR, 67 2B, 34/43 SB

Team Pitching: 3.01 ERA, 173 BB/352 K, .266 BAA, 37 HR allowed, 17 WP, 14 HBP

Key Players:

• Ashley Thompson, 1B (.408/.497/.758, 13 HR, 49 RBI, 12 SB)
• Libby Sugg, C (.314/.440/.718, 17 HR, 53 RBI)
• McKenna Bull, P (2.36 ERA, 97 BB/276 K, .249 BAA, 22 HR allowed)
  

What to watch: Performance throughout the lineup. BYU's power and average falls off sharply after the first couple batters. If they get production down the lineup, they'll be much tougher to handle.

Nebraska -€” 33-19 (13-9 in Big Ten Conference play)

Record against ranked teams: 3-9

• W -€” 6-5 vs. #7 Oregon
• L -€” 8-0 (5) vs. #1 Florida
• L -€” 6-5 (9) vs. #9 Washington
• W -€” 8-4 vs. #9 James Madison
• L -€” 6-0 vs. #21 Arizona St.
• L -€” 7-0 vs. #9 James Madison
• L -€” 4-2 vs. #13 Oklahoma
• W -€” 1-0 vs. #1 Michigan
• L -€” 4-1 vs. #1 Michigan
• L -€” 8-6 vs. #1 Michigan
• L -€” 6-0 vs. #24 Minnesota
• L -€” 11-10 vs. #24 Minnesota

Team Batting: .300/.397/.489, 191 BB/189 K, 64 HR, 75 2B, 39/48 SB

Team Pitching: 3.88 ERA, 156 BB/225 K, .274 BAA, 46 HR allowed, 30 WP, 24 HBP

Key Players:

• Kiki Stokes, CF (.417/.519/.649, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 20 SB)
• MJ Knighten, 3B (.379/.515/.820, 21 HR, 59 RBI, 7 SB)
• Cassie McClure, P (3.39 ERA, 62 BB/105 K, .272 BAA, 14 HR allowed)

What to watch: The pitching. Like the host team, they'll need their pitching to come through if they are to move on from the Columbia regional.

Louisville -€” 35-15 (15-8 in ACC play)

Record against ranked teams: 2-4

• L -€” 2-1 vs. Kentucky
• L -€” 8-7 vs. Notre Dame
• W -€” 7-3 vs. Notre Dame
• W -€” 4-0 vs. Florida St.
• L -€” 9-0 vs. Florida St.
• L -€” 4-3 vs. Florida St.

Team Batting: .316/.391/.461, 152 BB/162 K, 35 HR, 60 2B, 43/50 SB

Team Pitching: 2.20 ERA, 71 BB/237 K, .235 BAA, 20 HR allowed, 16 WP, 22 HBP

Key Players:

• Maryssa Becker, P/1B (.397/.519/.671, 9 HR, 58 RBI / 2.20 ERA, 30 BB/158 K, .235 BAA, 10 HR allowed)
• Megan Hensley, P/UT (.342/.408/.632, 13 HR, 52 RBI / 2.26 ERA, 40 BB/79 K, .232 BAA, 10 HR allowed)

What to watch: The big two. Becker and Hensley are the heart of soul of this Louisville team. As they go, so go the Cardinals. If they are on their game, they'll give everyone else fits.

Missouri -€” 39-14 (14-10 in SEC play)

Record against ranked teams: 9-10

• L -€” 8-7 (8) vs. #7 Oregon
• L -€” 13-0 (5) vs. #2 Michigan
• W -€” 8-0 vs. #17 Arizona St.
• W -€” 10-4 vs. #22 Baylor
• W -€” 7-3 vs. #6 Alabama
• L -€” 9-1 (5) vs. #6 Alabama
• L -€” 16-2 (5) vs. #6 Alabama
• L -€” 7-3 vs. #16 Tennessee
• W -€” 5-4 vs. #16 Tennessee
• W -€” 7-3 vs. #16 Tennessee
• L -€” 12-4 vs. #10 Georgia
• L -€” 10-0 (5) vs. #10 Georgia
• L -€” 6-3 vs. #10 Georgia
• L -€” 7-6 vs. #12 Kentucky
• W -€” 9-2 vs. #12 Kentucky
• L -€” 3-2 vs. #12 Kentucky
• W -€” 7-6 (8) vs. #16 Texas A&M
• W -€” 2-1 vs. #16 Texas A&M
• W -€” 7-1 vs. #16 Texas A&M

Team Batting: .324/.415/.509, 210 BB/189 K, 67 HR, 59 2B, 153/168 SB

Team Pitching: 3.17 ERA, 166 BB/240 K, .256 BAA, 36 HR allowed, 41 WP, 23 HBP

Key Players:

• Sami Fagan, SS (.425/.554/.693, 11 HR, 50 RBI, 25 SB)
• Emily Crane, RF (.401/.515/.815, 16 HR, 55 RBI, 22 SB)
• Taylor Gadbois, CF (.393/.455/.446, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 52 SB)

What to watch: The pitching. If Mizzou's pitching can hold, they are the clear favorite to emerge from this regional. If they struggle in the circle, the offense will be forced to match (or surpass) their great production from most of this season.