University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Baseball Heads to No. 23 Missouri State
3/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
| Minnesota (10-8) at No. 23 Missouri State (18-2) | |
| Game 1 | Friday, March 25 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Game 2 | Saturday, March 26 | 2 p.m. |
| Game 3 | Sunday, March 27 | 11:30 a.m. |
| Location | Hammons Field | Springfield, Mo. |
| Live Stats | | | |
| Game Day Live | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| Social Media | @GopherBaseball | Facebook | Instagram |
Fresh off a 10-3 win against Augsburg to cristen the 2016 home slate at Siebert Field, Minnesota is set to travel to Springfield, Mo. for a three-game series versus No. 23 Missouri State, March 25-27.
Coverage
The series will feature only live stats, put on by Missouri State.
Looking Back
The Gophers hosted their earliest outdoor home game since 1900 in a 10-3 drubbing of in-state foe Augsburg on Tuesday. Connor Schaefbauer led the way with four RBI, while Cody Campbell earned the victory on the mound after allowing just one hit in 3.0 innings pitched.
Pace The Pack
Overall, the Gophers have three players who rank near the top of the Big Ten in various statistical categories. Matt Fiedler leads the league in batting average with a .443 clip and ranks second in hits (31) and complete games (one). Fiedler also sits in third with three sacrifice flies and sixth with 17 runs scored. Austin Athmann paces the conference with a slugging percentage of .774 and nine doubles. He's also in second with a batting average of .434. Connor Schaefbauer is first with five sacrifice flies and fourth in sacrifice bunts with three.
One For The Ages
This weekend's matchup between head coaches John Anderson and Keith Guttin. Anderson (1,182) and Guttin (1,156) are both in the top-40 in the NCAA coaching all-time wins list. Both sit in ninth and 10th, respectively, among current coaches on the list of victories.
10 Is Key
The magic number for the Gophers is 10 as the team has accumulated nine wins when it reaches the double-digit hit total. Minnesota is also 4-0 when plating 10-plus runs on the scoreboard this season.
Keep The Streak
There are currently three active streaks two members of the Maroon and Gold will bring into the weekend. Austin Athmann is currently on a team-high 10-game streak of reaching base safely. He's made it safely on base in 13 of 14 games this season. Eddie Estrada is touting an eight-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in nine straight contests. During that span, Estrada is hitting a scorching .435 with 10 hits, including a double and a home run, to go along with six RBI and five runs. In the streak, he's held a .480 clip for on-base percentage and leads the Gophers among qualified at-bat totals in batting average.
All-Time Series
Minnesota and Missouri State have met eight times since 1994 and the Gophers hold a 6-2 advantage in the series. In their latest matchup in 2007, Minnesota took two of three in a series at the Metrodome.
About the Bears
Missouri State rides into the weekend on the back of a nine-game winning streak and has won 15 of its 16. 2015 All-American Jake Burger leads the team with a .434 batting average with 11 home runs and 31 RBI. Spencer Johnson ranks second on the team with 27 RBI and nine homers. On the mound, Jordan Knutson touts a 3.90 ERA in five starts with 31 strikeouts. On the back end, closer Bryan Young holds a 0.69 ERA with six saves and is limiting opponents to just a .167 batting average.
Contract Extension
Interim director of athletics Beth Goetz announced on March 4 that the University of Minnesota has agreed to terms on a contract extension with head baseball coach John Anderson through the 2021 season.
Program Upgrades
Minnesota is receiving two upgrades this season. Its new state-of-the-art locker room has been ready for use for a few weeks and the new hitting facility will open midway through the season, right next to Siebert Field.
Minnesota Heavy
The 2016 roster is highlighted by 66 percent of the players from inside the boarders of the state of Minnesota. Twenty-one players feature the highest number, with Wisconsin and Illinois close behind with four and three, respectively.
