Opposition Research: Southwest Baptist

Opening Remarks - I'm interested to see if Northwest's starting pitching has turned the corner after a tremendously successful weekend versus Missouri Western last weekend.  Were the guys fired-up for that weekend or have they made adjustments to execute better pitches?  Time will soon tell.  Here's hoping the Cats tweaked their deliveries so the starters can do deep in the games.  Last Tuesday's game was a bit of an abnormality as Northwest essentially pitched their relief guys from beginning to end.  The defense needs to keep their focus in the game and keep the errors to 1 or less per game for the series.  The offense should get its hacks but the guys should focus on their defense, too.  The Bearcats have shown they can win baseball games if their defense is humming, but the 'Cats can also show they can lose games if their offense is humming but defense and pitching lapse.  Northwest needs to focus on winning Game 1 on Friday and stay away from thinking (we've got to win 3 of 4 or else).  You can't hit a 5-run home run just like you can't win 5 games in a day's double-header.  Win Game 1.  All out.  All in.  Go Cats!!

Southwest Baptist University Bearcats
2012 Record - 16-17-1 (11-13 MIAA)
2012 Home Record - 14-9-1
2012 Road Record - 2-8

Weekend's Schedule - a double-header (7/9) on Friday with first pitch at 12pm and a double-header (7/9) on Saturday with first pitch at 12pm.

Offensively, SBU has a team batting average of .319, score an average of 5.6 runs per game, Slg% is .421, OB% is .389, SB/Att is 50/58.  SBU has 8 regular starters that bat over .300, 8 regular starters with OB% over .350, and all have good slugging %s.

Defensively, SBU committed 53 errors that have led to 41 unearned runs and are fielding at a .955 clip.

Pitching, SBU has a team ERA of 5.78, 10 complete games, 92 walks, 157 strike-outs, opponents are batting .306 off of them, 24 wild pitches, hit 23 batters, and balked 4 times.  SBU has 1 starter that has significant starts in 2012 with an ERA under 5.00 with the rest (6.34, 8.20, and 8.28) all above 6.30.

 NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY BEARCATS
2012 RECORD - 11-23 (10-14 MIAA)
2012 HOME RECORD - 4-9
2012 ROAD RECORD - 7-12
2012 NEUTRAL SITE RECORD - 0-2

Offensively, Northwest has a team batting average of .322, scored 243 runs, 32 home runs, Slugging .482, 137 walks, hit 48 times, struck out 232 times, have a .414 on-base percentage, stolen 43 bases out of 58 attempts.  There are two regular Bearcat starters that are batting over .400 in 2012.  There are seven regular starters batting .299 or better.  Northwest has 4 reserves that have legitimate offense, power, and on-base percentage in Horton, Krueger, Eckhardt, and Mapes. 

Defensively, the Bearcats have committed 58 errors that have led to 40 unearned runs and are fielding at a .952 clip.

Pitching, Northwest has a team ERA of 6.69, pitched 4 complete games, earned 4 saves, allowed 200 earned runs, 128 walks, 147 strike-outs, allowed 30 home runs, opponents are batting .325 off of Northwest pitching, thrown 27 wild pitches, hit 16 batters, and committed 4 balks.  The weekend starters' are starting to lower their ERAs and the bullpen is settling into roles and respectable ERAs, too.

Team by Team Comparison

                                              NWMSU                  SBU                  Advantage
On-Base %                            .414                          .389                   NWMSU
SLG%                                   .482                           .421                  NWMSU
Fielding %                             .952                            .955                  SBU
ERA                                      6.69                            5.78                 SBU

Go Cats!!
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