G47-50: SBU BEARCATS (11-35, 9-27 MIAA)
at MISSOURI SOUTHERN
LIONS (22-24, 16-18 MIAA)
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 1 • 4 PM/2 PM
JOE BECKER STADIUM • JOPLIN, MO
GAME NOTES
BOLIVAR, Mo. -- WIthout a game in ten days due to rainouts, the SBU Bearcats make their MIAA season finale with a trip to Joplin to take on the Missouri Southern Lions. A pair of doubleheaders against Ottawa (Kan.) and Maryville were cancelled due to weather last week, leaving the Bearcats with the four-game set against the Lions to close out the regular season. SBU has already seen improvement from the 2009 season, winning two more games overall as well as in conferece play compared to last season.
With four games left in the season, team leaders in some categories are coming down to the wire. Junior leftfielder Paden Grubbs currently has a team-high 54 hits, although fellow outfielder Niko Saladis is just behind him with 51. Arguably the biggest offensive threat on the squad, Grubbs leads in a number of offensive categories, including doubles (16), RBI (39, most by a Bearcat since 2007), slugging percentage (.656, best since 2000), and total bases (103). Grubbs also has 11 homeruns, the most by a Bearcat since 2005 (Kevin Miller). Currently just two homeruns behind, Grubbs could tie Rodney Noel’s SBU record of 13 long balls, set back in 1987. Middle infielder Nigel Morton likely has the team batting title wrapped up, with a .369 average, and with a hot bat over the last weekend, could climb the leaderboard in hits as well.
Pitcher Greg Seay is currently the leader in strikeouts (46), wins, (3-9 record), and ERA (5.88). Jared Berman, Wes Burrell, and Josh Brock look to possibly get one more victory to tie Seay for the team lead.
THE COACHES AND SERIES HISTORY
Bearcat head coach Sam Berg is in his 11th season with SBU. Berg earned his 150th victory at SBU earlier this year. During his time in Bolivar, Berg has seen his program produce 24 All-MIAA awards, and two NCAA All-Region winners.
Bryce Darnell is in his third season at the helm of the Lions baseball program, where he has seen steady improvements each year. In 2008, Darnell led Southern to an increased win total in both overall and conference play, and last season the Lions reached the MIAA Tournament for the first time since 2002.
The Lions have taken control of the all-time series, leading 79-26, and have won the last eight matchups, sweeping the last two season series.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Missouri Southern is currently in a tight race for a spot in the MIAA Tournament. Expanded to six teams this year, Southern sits seventh in the MIAA standings, tied with Missouri Western with a 16-18 conference record, but with a sub-par 22-24 mark overall. While the Griffons host 9th-ranked Emporia State for their final series of the year, the Washburn Icabods are also within striking distance with a 17-17 conference record, and play a four-game set at Northwest Missouri State.
First baseman Joe Lincoln leads the Lions with a .437 batting average and will carry an 8-game hitting streak into the series with the Bearcats. Lincoln has collected 69 hits on the year, good for third-most in the MIAA. Shortstop Jacob Taylor has blasted 13 homeruns, second in the conference behind Fort Hays’ Kyle Stacken (15). Zach Caldwell (.277, 3 HR, 28 RBI) is always a threat to steal, swiping a conference-leading 32 bases while only getting caught three times.