Thursday, February 18, 2016

Opposition Research - Oklahoma Christian University


Opposition Research - Oklahoma Christian University

Maryville, Mo. - Your Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats baseball team will travel to Edmond, Oklahoma this weekend to play the Eagles of Oklahoma Christian University in a 3-game series. The two teams will tangle in a single nine-inning game on Friday at 1pm, a nine-inning game on Saturday at 1pm, and a nine-inning game on Sunday at 1pm. OCU may not be a casual observer's top selection of a NCAA D2 baseball power but a little research proves this is a very impressive team and University. OCU is a member of the Heartland Conference, a NCAA D2 conference and program. OCU is a private Christian liberal arts institution in Edmond, Oklahoma. OCU's 2014 student population was 2,479. OCU was ranked among the best "Regional Universities" in the 16-State West region according to US News and World Report. OCU joined Heartland Conference and the NCAA D2 in 2012.

Despite OCU's recent entry to the NCAA D2 level of competition, the B2R is impressed with the high quality and successful baseball team.

In 2016, OCU has held serve among the best NCAA D2 baseball programs. The Eagles currently stand at 4-4. Six of the eight games have been on the road with the remaining two games being played at a neutral site.  OCU's 2016 opponents so far have been Texas A&M-Kingsville (where OCU swept the 3 game series), Southeastern Oklahoma State (road game that OCU lost), Central Missouri Mules (lost 7-4 at a neutral site tournament), Southern Arkansas (lost on the road), Washburn Ichabods (OCU won 7-3 at a neutral site tournament), and Oklahoma Baptist (lost on the road). OCU has played with the traditionally strong MIAA baseball teams this season and did quite well.

2016 OCU Statistics

##Playeravggp-gsabrh2b3bhrrbitbslg%bbhbpsogdpob%sfshsbsbapoaefld%
33Baxter, Jake.4868-835717602729.8290121.500003365501.000
1Lacy, Kyle.3648-72268113920.9093060.44000245401.000
25Orth, Austin.3468-72659500414.5382051.39303006471.986
5Kuwitzky, Chase.3335-4120410015.4170061.30812014131.944
27Collins, Jake.3336-392300003.3331030.40001007201.000
23Jones, Derek.3038-833910202218.54540100.37800331101.917
7Rosser, Robert.2868-6212620048.3813350.42910018101.000
15McKenzie, Ben.2738-73359201414.42410100.29400006104.800
4Cobble, Zac.2508-8325810059.2811150.2940312161401.000
14Paul, Lane.1545-4131210023.2312070.267000014201.000
13Sterling, Jared.1257-6162210023.1882140.2501000222.667
2Polston, Alex.0714-4141100001.0712060.18800124111.938
----------
21Fazekas, Dylan.2501-140110032.5000030.2500000000.000
21Fazekas, Dylan.0004-160000000.0000000.00000002101.000
3Baugh, Brady.0002-220000000.0001020.33301111001.000
22Peck, Austin.0002-021000000.0000000.00000001001.000

##Playereraw-lapp-gscgshosviphrerbbso2b3bhrabb/avgwphbpbksfasha
34Moore, Jake0.001-03-000-006.22104800021.09520000
27Collins, Jake1.591-03-000-005.23112710120.15020000
11Hill, Garett2.250-04-000-008.0102221200034.29400000
1Lacy, Kyle4.091-12-200-0011.076541220037.18952001
28Horn, Bradley4.091-02-200-0011.0106531630041.24411100
21Fazekas, Dylan5.060-13-000-015.14335820020.20030000
12Sturges, Dylon6.230-04-000-014.13333200015.20021001
8Walker, Brennan6.230-12-100-004.15433100015.33303020
13Sterling, Jared6.300-12-200-0010.0108761230138.26330001
6Price, Jared24.000-01-100-003.09883310217.52930000
----------
19Foster, Tanner0.000-01-000-001.0000200003.00000000

##Playercpoaefld%dpsbacsbpbci
33Baxter, Jake7065501.00030000
4Cobble, Zac30161401.00020000
14Paul, Lane1614201.00000100
27Collins, Jake97201.00000000
7Rosser, Robert98101.00000000
1Lacy, Kyle95401.00001200
6Price, Jared41301.00010000
12Sturges, Dylon30301.00001000
28Horn, Bradley30301.00002200
21Fazekas, Dylan32101.00000100
11Hill, Garett20201.00002000
3Baugh, Brady11001.00000000
34Moore, Jake10101.00001000
22Peck, Austin11001.00000000
25Orth, Austin726471.98607300
5Kuwitzky, Chase184131.94420000
2Polston, Alex164111.93810000
23Jones, Derek121101.91700000
15McKenzie, Ben206104.80000000
13Sterling, Jared6222.66700100
8Walker, Brennan1001.00000000
20Wages, Garrett0000.00000000
19Foster, Tanner0000.00000000
21Fazekas, Dylan0000.00000000

What is impressive about OCU is their strong offense and very solid pitching against high quality opponents. OCU's defense has been suspect early this season considering the Eagles are a southern school but the past is not necessarily an indicator of future success or failure. In total, OCU is another extremely tough non-conference opponent facing the Bearcats. The B2R has loved the non-conference scheduling this season against very difficult opponents. With MIAA conference games starting the following weekend, this will be the final tune-up for the Bearcats. Win the series and the Cats finish above .500...with all road games...versus high quality and southern baseball schools.

Let's take a look at the Northwest Missouri State 2016 statistics:

2016 NWMSU Statistics - 

• Record: 3-3 • Home: 0-0 • Away: 1-3 • Neutral: 2-0 • MIAA: 0-0 •
Player  avg gp-gs ab 2b 3b hr rbi tb slg% bb hbp so gdp ob% sf sh sb-att po fld% 
Fort, Garrett  .353 6-6 17 .353 .542 5-6 1.000 
Gotta,Nick  .333 6-6 21 10 13 .619 .444 0-0 14 .955 
Hrdlicka,Jay  .316 6-6 19 .421 .458 1-1 23 1.000 
Greenslade,Kolby  .286 6-6 21 .429 .348 3-5 10 1.000 
Douglas,Zachary  .250 2-1 .250 .500 0-0 11 .929 
Adams,Ozzie  .227 6-6 22 .273 .370 1-2 12 .950 
Wulff,Austin  .211 6-5 19 .263 .273 0-0 13 1.000 
Lewis,Jake  .158 5-5 19 .316 .238 0-1 21 1.000 
Handzlik,Kevin  .143 4-4 14 .214 .200 0-0 .857 
Meyer,Derek  .125 3-2 .125 .125 0-0 17 1.000 
Holler,James  .071 4-4 14 .071 .071 0-0 24 1.000 
Howard,Nick  .000 3-2 .000 .200 0-0 1.000 
Wilkinson,Luke  .000 1-1 .000 .000 0-0 1.000 
Pablo,Nikko  .000 1-0 .000 .000 0-0 .000 
Totals  .223 6-6 188 34 42 32 59 .314 24 36 .335 10-15 147 51 .975 
Opponents  .216 6-6 176 23 38 20 48 .273 18 48 .300 5-6 153 72 11 .953 

Player  era w-l app-gs cg sho sv ip er bb so 2b 3b hr ab b/avg wp hbp bk sfa sha 
Wagner,Jacob  0.00 0-0 2-0 0/0 2.0 .200 
Pablo,Nikko  0.00 0-0 1-0 0/0 1.2 .000 
Smith,Carson  0.00 0-0 2-0 0/0 1.2 .143 
Pearcy,Hondo  0.00 0-0 1-0 0/0 1.1 .000 
Osborne,John  0.00 0-0 1-0 0/0 0.1 1.000 
Hietpas,Joseph  3.18 2-0 2-2 0/0 11.1 40 .200 
Roberts,Brad  3.72 0-0 2-2 0/0 9.2 11 38 .289 
Shea,Bryce  4.26 0-0 4-0 0/0 6.1 21 .143 
Caenepeel,Anthony  5.25 0-2 2-2 0/0 12.0 10 14 44 .227 
Battaglia,Austin  6.75 1-1 2-0 0/0 2.2 11 .273 
Totals  3.67 3-3 6-6 0/0 49.0 38 23 20 18 48 176 .216 
Opponents  4.59 3-3 6-6 1/1 51.0 42 34 26 24 36 188 .223 
PB - Team (0), Opp (2). Pickoffs - Team (1), Caenepeel,An 1, Opp (3). SBA/ATT - Douglas,Zach (2-3), Meyer,Derek (2-2), Hietpas,Jose (2-2), Roberts,Brad (2-2), Hrdlicka,Jay (1-1), Smith,Carson (1-1), Wagner,Jacob (0-1).

Northwest's pitching has been outstanding with solid defensive play so far in 2016. The Bearcats offense needs to perk-up to give the team a consistent run scoring output each and every game. Northwest's offense will continue to improve but the B2R is thrilled with the winning combination of exemplary pitching and defense. Offensively, Garrett Fort is having a heckuva Junior year leading the team with a .353 batting average and a .542 on-base percentage. Senior Nick Gotta picked-up right where he left off his Junior year with batting .333, slugging .619, and on-base .444. Red-Shirt Freshman Jay Hrdlicka has burst onto the scene with a .316 batting average, .421 slugging, and .458 on-base percentage splitting time between DH and catcher. The "weekend 3" starters of Caenepeel, Hietpas, and Roberts has been outstanding with two of the three throwing in the 3s ERA and our Ace (Caenepeel) throwing in the 5s after a tough-ending to his initial appearance in game 1 of the season. The Bearcats bullpen has been great with newcomer Bryce Shea getting the call the most times and throwing in the 4s ERA.

Statistically speaking - give Northwest the edge in pitching and defense and OCU the nod on offense.

Live Stats - To follow the Bearcats via the Live Stats feature, click on the link below to be directed to the Official website of Bearcat Athletics -


Concluding thoughts - Expect a thrilling weekend series against OCU with the Bearcats hungry to prove the pre-season coaches' poll prognosticators wrong. Two outstanding clubs will clash with the series winner going to the team that executes the best and limits the damage. Northwest's starting rotation needs to get deep into the games and keep the Cats in it. Defense needs to eliminate extra outs to keep our pitch counts low. The Bearcats' offense needs to get on base and into the heads of OCU pitchers and defenders by being ornery on the base-paths.

Go Cats!!
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