Opposition Research - Christian Brothers University

Opposition Research - Christian Brothers University

Memphis, Tennessee - Your Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats baseball team travels to Memphis, Tennessee, to take on Christian Brothers University to open the 2016 NCAA season.  Christian Brothers University is a member of the Gulf South Athletics Conference of the NCAA Division 2.  The Gulf South Conference boasts member institutions such as Delta State, West Georgia, and North Alabama.  The Bearcats will play three nine-inning games against Christian Brothers with the first game on Saturday, February 6th at 1pm, game two on Sunday, February 7th at 1pm, and game three on Monday, February 8, at 1pm.

The Christian Brothers baseball team has played one game in 2016 according to its website.  Christian Brothers enter the Northwest series with a 1-0 record after they beat Lymoyne-Owen (Tennessee) by the score 5-4.  In the game against L-O, Christian Brothers was trailing 4-2 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning then they scored three runs to walk-off with a win.  CB opened the scoring in that game when Scott Pala reached on an error with two outs in the bottom of the second inning.  After the error, Nick Traylor and Michael Halley both singled to load the bases for Mickey Smith.  Smith draws a walk to earn the RBI and put the score 1-0. LO tied the game in the top of the fourth inning when with a triple and a RBI ground-out.  LO took the lead in the top of the 6th with back-to-back walks and a double to lead 3-1.  LO adds to its lead by an additional run in the top of the 8th inning to make the score 4-1.  In the bottom of the 8th inning, CB's Casey Goodwin doubled and later scored off of Michael Halley fielder's choice to cut the deficit to 4-2.  In the bottom of the ninth inning, CB scored three runs without making an out. Christian Halterman was hit by a pitch then Joe Mattson and Caleb Goodwin each singled to load the bases.  With the bases loaded, Riley Kilgore was hit by a pitch to score a run. Then Casey Goodwin walked with the bases loaded to tie the game. Then, CB's Scott Pala walked to score the winning run, 5-4.

Notable offense players -

Michael Halley (batted lead-off) went 2 for 4 with a sacrifice and 1 RBI;

Mickey Smith (batted 2nd) went 2 for 3 with 2 walks and 1 RBI;

Casey Goodwin (batted 7th) went 2 for 5.

Pitching - CB used six pitchers in the game.  The notable pitching performances in the game -

Patrick Gurley - 1.0 IP, 1 K, 0 ER;

Jack Parker - 2.0 IP, 3 K, 0 ER;

Matthew Mills - 2.0 IP, 2 K, 1 ER;

Gil Erwin - 2.0 IP, 4 K, 1 ER.

Peyton Sanderlin - 1.0 IP, 2 K, 0 ER, and picked-up the win in the game.

CB used 14 players in the line-up in the game.  The game took three hours to complete with an announced attendance of 300 people.  CB hit two doubles and did not attempt to steal a base in the game.  CB was not charged with an error in the game. 

CB does not post its players' statistics from previous seasons so there is no chance to compare the top returning players.

In conclusion, Christian Brothers University is a quality NCAA Division 2 opponent from an excellent Conference.  CB will be an excellent test for your Bearcats.  Thankfully, CB has only played one game so both squads are essentially entering the game with the same amount of experience to start the series.  Northwest is going to need its starting pitching and bullpen to carry the load this series until the offense can get its timing down with the speed of outdoor competition.  In addition, the Bearcats defense needs to focus and execute in all plays and avoid giving extra outs to the other squad to minimize the pitchers' pitch count.  Pitching and Defense - same plan this year as it is every year.

Go Cats!!

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