Familiar Territory
Jon Oakley
Issue date: 3/4/09 Section: Sports
The Leathernecks baseball team is hoping the third time is the charm against Top 25 teams, as they travel to No. 15 Missouri on Wednesday to finish off a streak of playing against three-straight Top 25 opponents.
The Tigers (2-7) began the season with a rocky start, but return home to host the Leathernecks (0-5) for their home opener. Missouri started the season No. 10 in the nation, but suffered a seven-game losing streak, which dropped them to 15th.
"I have told the team (Missouri's) record of 2-7 is very deceiving," said head coach Stan Hyman. "They are ranked 15th in the nation for a reason. They've got a great pitching staff. They weren't just picked 15 for the hell of it. Their seven losses are what I would call quality losses, similar to ours. In no way do we go into this game or next week's game thinking the experts were wrong or that this is a weak Mizzou team."
The Tigers won its season opener and collected a second win, snapping the seven game slide with a 5-2 win over No. 8 Arizona State. Even though Hyman said he wouldn't underestimate Missouri, he also said that he truly liked the Leathernecks' chances.
"This is a good match up for us," Hyman said. "We always seem to match up well at Missouri. We've beaten them twice there, and we've played them close most of the times we've ever played them. Any team that is going to be more of a pitching and defensive type ball club will be a good matchup for us."
The 'Necks assume a great advantage when comparing the two teams scheduled this week.
Missouri follows Wednesday's game with a four-game series against Ball State, whereas Western doesn't compete again until the teams meet next Tuesday. This means that the 'Necks can throw everything they have, while the Tigers will have to conserve themselves for a week packed full of games.
This will not only let Western throw its best pitchers, but according to Hyman, it means Missouri ace junior starting pitcher Kyle Gibson isn't scheduled to pitch against the 'Necks. Gibson has pitched 13 innings in his two starts, striking out 14 batters, giving up only eight hits and posting a 1.38 ERA.
The Tigers (2-7) began the season with a rocky start, but return home to host the Leathernecks (0-5) for their home opener. Missouri started the season No. 10 in the nation, but suffered a seven-game losing streak, which dropped them to 15th.
"I have told the team (Missouri's) record of 2-7 is very deceiving," said head coach Stan Hyman. "They are ranked 15th in the nation for a reason. They've got a great pitching staff. They weren't just picked 15 for the hell of it. Their seven losses are what I would call quality losses, similar to ours. In no way do we go into this game or next week's game thinking the experts were wrong or that this is a weak Mizzou team."
The Tigers won its season opener and collected a second win, snapping the seven game slide with a 5-2 win over No. 8 Arizona State. Even though Hyman said he wouldn't underestimate Missouri, he also said that he truly liked the Leathernecks' chances.
"This is a good match up for us," Hyman said. "We always seem to match up well at Missouri. We've beaten them twice there, and we've played them close most of the times we've ever played them. Any team that is going to be more of a pitching and defensive type ball club will be a good matchup for us."
The 'Necks assume a great advantage when comparing the two teams scheduled this week.
Missouri follows Wednesday's game with a four-game series against Ball State, whereas Western doesn't compete again until the teams meet next Tuesday. This means that the 'Necks can throw everything they have, while the Tigers will have to conserve themselves for a week packed full of games.
This will not only let Western throw its best pitchers, but according to Hyman, it means Missouri ace junior starting pitcher Kyle Gibson isn't scheduled to pitch against the 'Necks. Gibson has pitched 13 innings in his two starts, striking out 14 batters, giving up only eight hits and posting a 1.38 ERA.
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