The Missouri Tigers come to Lincoln this weekend to face the Husker baseball team for a Big 12 conference series. Nebraska (21-23-1, 5-16 Big 12) is currently coming off a two-game midweek sweep against a decent New Mexico squad while Missouri (25-21, 11-10 Big 12) comes in on a four-game win streak that includes a sweep of Texas Tech last weekend. The sweep isn’t all that shocking consider how poorly Tech has done on the road this season.
The Huskers face the real possibility of not making the Big 12 tourney as they are currently last (10th) and only the top eight teams make the tourney. Nebraska trails Oklahoma State at 6-11, and Texas Tech at 9-12. Texas Tech is off this weekend while Oklahoma State welcomes Kansas State - a series Kansas State can certainly win with the way they’ve been playing this season.
Missouri will be tough because of their pitching. Friday Tiger starter Kyle Gibson is one of the top pro pitching prospects in the nation, and Sunday starter Nick Tepesch has come around as the season has progressed. On Saturday, Missouri uses a “pitch by committee” approach, jokingly named “Johnny Wholestaff”, in which up to nine pitchers throw for an inning apiece.
The Tigers aren’t hitting so well, currently tenth in the Big 12 at .276. Unfortunately, the Huskers are ninth at .279. Still, this is a series Nebraska could win in the front of the home crowd.
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Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday - 6:05 pm
NU-Jordan Roualdes, LHP, Jr., (4-4, 6.84 ERA)
MU- Kyle Gibson, RHP, Jr. (7-3, 3.57 ERA)
Saturday - 2:05 pm
NU-Mike Nesseth, RHP, So., (3-3, 4.75 ERA)
MU- Johnny Wholestaff
Sunday - 1:05 pm
NU-Sean Yost, RHP, R-Fr., (1-4, 6.99 ERA)
MU-Nick Tepesch, RHP, So. (4-4, 6.41 ERA)