Series Preview - Lincoln University Blue Tigers

The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats baseball team take on the Lincoln University Blue Tigers in a must-win match-up this weekend at Bearcat Field on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University.  The Cats and Tigers clash at 1pm on Saturday, April 20, 2013, and will play a double-header.  The 3rd and final game of the series will be played on Sunday, April 21, 2013, with first pitch set for Noon.

Media -

Northwestbearcats.com - http://www.nwmissouri.edu/sports/baseball/2013/pressreleases/13bsb0419.htm

Lubluetigers.com - http://www.lubluetigers.com/news/2013/4/18/BB_0418134156.aspx

The Blue Tigers have had a tough 2013 season entering this weekend's match-up with an overall record of 5-28, 4-24 MIAA.  Lincoln is 3-11 at home and 2-17 on the road this year.  Offensively, 3 regulars bat over .308 with Ben Stewart leading the charge at .373, 4 home runs, slugging .508, on-base .406.  While on the base paths, the Blue Tigers average a little over 1.0 stolen base per game and have stolen 36 bases in 47 attempts in 33 games.  Lincoln average scoring 4.61 runs per game.  Defensively, Lincoln averages 2.0 errors per game and have committed 66 errors in 33 games with a fielding percentage of .941.  Pitching, Lincoln has struggled with a team ERA of 9.54 where all the pitchers that have started at least one game have an ERA of 7.71, 8.57, 8.89, 9.42, 10.50, 11.63, and 16.11.  The Blue Tigers average about 1 walk for every 1 strike-out.  Opponents are batting .357 against the Blue Tigers pitching staff.

Northwest's offense is hitting its stride with several Bearcats dramatically improving their statistics over the past 3 weeks.  As it now stands, 5 regulars are batting .304 or above with 2 more regulars in striking distance to .300.  As a team, the Bearcats are batting .288, slugging .431, and are on-base .380, with Tyler Durant leading the way the entire season with a .341 batting, .473 slugging, and .382 on-base.  Northwest averages scoring 6.34 runs per game.  On the base paths, Northwest averages 1.15 stolen bases per game and have swiped 47 bases in 69 attempts.  Defensively, Northwest commit a little over 1.0 error per game and have a fielding percentage of .969.  Pitching, Northwest has a team ERA of 6.71 with Rob Henrichs, Ryker Fox, and Marcus Garrett leading the way amongst the starters with 4.28, 4.76, and 5.14 ERAs, respectively.  Northwest pitchers strike-out 2 batters for every 1 batter they walk. 

                    NW          LU
Batting         .288          .266
Slugging       .431          .358
SB/Att         47/69        36/47
On base       .380          .338
Fielding        .969          .941
ERA             6.71          9.54

Go Cats!!
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