Sat, May 17 2008
|
|
Published May 03, 2008 01:44 am - Lions close out season with Central By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com Missouri Southern, whose .303 team batting average ranks fourth in the MIAA, faces the conference’s best pitching staff this weekend. No. 23-ranked Central Missouri, first in the league and 10th in NCAA Division II with a 3.58 staff earned run average, plays a four-game series this weekend to conclude the Lions’ season. Doubleheaders begin today at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Joe Becker Stadium. The Mules (35-13, 23-7) are second in the conference and won three of four games against league-leading Emporia State last weekend, losing the series finale 10-8. Central Missouri is third in this week’s Central Region ranking behind ESU and Wayne State, Neb. “There is a little bit of a gap between the top four teams and everybody else in the league,” Lions head coach Bryce Darnell said. “We’re going to see a team very similar to Emporia State and Missouri Western. One week ago, the Lions (18-30, 15-17) lost four games to Missouri Western, ending MSSU’s postseason hopes. “The first game (3-1 loss), we definitely felt like we let it get away,” Darnell said. “We had numerous opportunities to tie the game or go ahead if we could get a hit or execute a bunt. We had some chances along the MIAA schedule to win at least two or three more games if we did one or two things better. “It’s a hard situation, playing four games that don’t mean a whole lot in terms of the standings. But like I told the players, we’re a program, not just a season. We need to approach it as getting better every day we play or practice.” Lions first baseman Derek Ezell ranks 10th in the league batting race with a .385 average, followed by center fielder Juan Hernandez at .341. Ezell, a junior, also leads the team in doubles (16), home runs (6) and runs batted in (37). The Lions’ probable pitchers today are right-handers Matthew Mantle (2-6, 8.08 earned run average) and Tyler Lipscomb (4-6, 6.35). Three of the Mules’ starters rank among the top seven in the league in ERA — right-hander Mark Carey (7-1, 2.63 ERA) and left-handers Danny Potje (7-1, 3.67) and Jared “Boomer” Potts (5-4, 4.84). Potts, a senior who prepped at Wyandotte, Okla., averages 10.77 strikeouts per nine innings, one more than Carey. The Mules are hitting .321 as a team. First baseman Balin Bergman and right fielder Blaine Rutledge, both seniors, are batting .406 and .403, respectively. Rutledge has raised his average 79 points in the last 13 games. Four more Mules are hitting at least .350 — designated hitter Mike Hallam .380, center fielder Clay Weatherford .390, left fielder Will Feil .364 and shortstop Brian McBryde .355. McBryde, a four-year starter has a school-record 285 hits. The Mules have been a dominant program for several years. They have compiled a 452-97 record since 2000, the most victories of any program in NCAA Division I, II or III. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Sports section
Eagles, Cavaliers open sectional tennis bids Briarbrook holds lead in city golf Play at plate works, Riverton makes run stand up in regional |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
The Joplin Globe Publishing Company 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. |
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service 
|