Weekend Series Opponent: Missouri Western State University
2-game double header on Friday, April 6, 2012, first pitch scheduled for 1pm (7-inning, 9-inning)
2-game double header on Saturday, April 7, 2012, first pitch scheduled for 1pm (7-inning, 9-inning) (Salute to the US Military Day)
Location - Bearcat Baseball Field in Maryville, Missouri
Opening Comments: Missouri Western is not flashy offensively or defensively but they can pitch with anybody in the MIAA. If Northwest can muster 7 runs per game for the 4-game series that will more then double Western's average runs allowed per game. It looks like your top 3 Griffon starters are set barring injury then 4 guys compete to start the 4th game with all 4 earning starts in 2012. Northwest pitching will need to step-up against Western and keep the 'Cats in the ballgames.
Missouri Western has a 2012 record of 19-9, 12-6 MIAA and just swept a 4-game series versus Washburn last weekend. The Griffons are 17-4 at home and 2-5 on the road. As a team, the Griffons are batting .279 scoring 135 runs, 50 doubles, 11 triples, and 16 home runs. The Griffons have a .457 slugging % and an on-base % of .354. MoWest has 86 walks plus 15 hit by pitches and struck-out 130 times. MWSU has stolen 21 bases in 32 attempts. Western fields 5 players that are batting over .300 in 2012 with decent power.
Defensively, the Griffons have committed 33 errors in 28 games and are fielding at a .966 clip. This has led to 16 unearned runs.
Pitching, the Griffons have a team ERA of 3.35 (remarkable). MWSU pitchers have tossed 8 complete games, earned 5 saves, allowed 224 hits in 220 innings, allowed 82 earned runs, 69 walks, 146 strike outs, 29 doubles, 3 triples, and 6 home run. Opponents are batting .271 off of MoWest pitching. The Griff have threw 12 wild pitches, hit 22 batters, and committed 5 balks. Three of Missouri Western's weekend starters have sub-3.00 ERA with at least 5 starts. Only 1 pitcher that has started a game for Western has an ERA over 4.42.
Opening remarks - Northwest will have to play better defense and execute pitches if they are going to beat Western this weekend. The Cats can absolutely win 3 of 4 this weekend but the offense has to break through the staunch Western starting rotation by building up pitch counts, spoiling good 2-strike pitching, and slapping base hits down the line. Northwest will have to play solid defense, too. Since Western has played only 7 games on the road in 2012, I'm not sure how they will react to a natural grass surface where there are issues with bad hops that the Griffs do not experience on their home turf field. Northwest pitching has to keep the 'Cats in the games and not allow the Griff a comfortable lead. This weekend's series is important to both squads. Northwest needs to win to stay in the hunt for the conference play-offs. Western is still in the thick of a regular season conference championship. Head out to Bearcat Baseball Field this weekend and catch some exciting college baseball.
Northwest Missouri State has a 9-20, 8-12 MIAA record in 2012. The 'Cats are 7-12 on the road and 2-6 at home. The Bearcats have a team batting average of .319, scored 207 runs, 304 hits, 56 doubles, 5 triples, and 30 home runs. Northwest has a slugging % of .483, earned 119 walks, 43 hit by pitches, 201 strike-outs, and an on-base % of .413. The 'Cats have stolen 39 bases in 52 attempts in 2012.
Defensively, the Bearcats have committed 50 errors in 29 games and are fielding at a .952 clip.
Pitching, Northwest arms' have a team ERA of 7.07, allowed 314 hits in 229.0 IP, 180 earned runs, 108 walks, 128 strike outs, 61 doubles, 8 triples, and 29 home runs. Opponents are batting .331 off of Northwest pitching. In addition, Northwest has thrown 26 wild pitches, hit 16 batters, and balked 4 times.
Go Cats!!
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