G28-29: SBU BEARCATS (5-22, 4-16 MIAA)
vs #2 CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES (22-2, 15-1 MIAA)
TUESDAY, MARCH 30 • 2:00 PM
DODSON FIELD • BOLIVAR, MO

G30-33: SBU BEARCATS at
#26 NEBRASKA-OMAHA MAVERICKS (16-6, 12-2 MIAA)
THURSDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 1-3 • 3 PM / 1 PM / 12 PM
BALLPARK AT BOYS TOWN • OMAHA, NE
LIVE STATS from UNO

SBU NOTES | UNO NOTES

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Coming off a series split with Fort Hays that consisted of two of SBU's best comebacks in recent memory, the Bearcats have a tough task in keeping their momentum, as they take on two nationally ranked-teams in the Central Missouri Mules, and the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks. The top two teams in the MIAA standings, Central Missouri and Nebraska-Omaha are a combined 38-8 on the year.

The Bearcat offense has been heating up over the last few weeks, as the team has raised it's collective batting average to .281, the highest point all season. Five players are currently hitting above .300; Steven Davis leads the team with a .380 average. The junior catcher has hit two home runs while driving in 12 RBI. Nigel Morton (.349) has swiped five bases, tied for the team lead, and has only been caught stealing twice. Center fielder Niko Saladis (.330) also has five steals, and is the team leader in hits, with 35, and triples, with two. Junior left fielder Paden Grubbs (.326) is in the top ten in the MIAA in slugging percentage (.636, 9th), doubles (8, 3rd), home runs (5, 6th), and total bases (49, 7th). Grubbs also leads SBU with 20 RBI.

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.

Mules head coach Tommy Myers is in his third season in Warrensburg, where he has yet to finish worse than runner-up in the NCAA South Central Regional tournament. Before being named head coach, Myers was an assistant at Kansas State, and even further back, was an assistant with Central Missouri during their national championship season in 2003. In his eleventh season at Nebraska-Omaha, Bob Herold celebrated his 350th win with the Mavericks earlier this season, and looks to extend UNO's streak to six consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Since 2000, SBU has won two games against UCM, and is 0-4 against Nebraska-Omaha, who joined the MIAA in 2009.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Leading the Mules is senior outfielder Chance Tuttle, who is among the MIAA leaders in numerous categories, including leading the league in runs (37), hits (33), triples (3), and walks (18). Five different players, including Tuttle, have hit at least three home runs this season for UCM. Central Missouri have four starting pitchers that have not yet recorded a loss with an ERA under 3.00. Brooks Martin (6-0, 1.85 ERA) has rung up 43 batters this season. Mitch Stubenhofer (1-0, 1.33 ERA) has allowed just three earned runs in 20 1/3 innings pitched.

The Mavericks have three players hitting above .400; Tyler Lundy is hitting .416 with a team-high 4 home runs, Jake Benne is hitting .410 and is one of four Mavs to record 20 runs so far this year, and Tyler Splichal has recorded a .400 average, while churning out 10 doubles, tying him for the conference lead. The ace of the Omaha staff is Joe Holtmeyer. Holtmeyer is 4-1 on the year with a 1.99 ERA and 72 strikeouts. The Mavs have a solid bullpen as well, anchored by the duo of Max Huerter and Brandon Dahl. Huerter has a 2.00 ERA and has held opponents to a .143 average, while Dahl has a 2.23 ERA and has allowed only two earned runs over eight innings.

NEXT UP FOR THE BEARCATS
The Bearcats host the Lincoln Blue Tigers before heading out to Maryville to take on the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats. The single game against Lincoln is a make-up game from earlier this month. The green Bearcats are 3-7 over their last three conference series, before they take on Emporia State in a four-game set. As for the Blue Tigers, the 9-21 looks misleading; Lincoln has been playing .500 baseball since taking three of four against Oklahoma Panhandle in mid-March.