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COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri baseball (22-16, 5-13 SEC) returns to Taylor Stadium for a three-game series against Mississippi State (24-18, 8-10 SEC) beginning Friday night at 6 p.m.
Friday’s series opener and Saturday’s 2 p.m. contest will stream on SEC Network +. Sunday’s finale is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch on SEC Network.
Fans can also catch Mizzou baseball on the airwaves all season long on KTGR and the Tiger Radio Network. Tex Little and Matt Michaels will have the call.
TICKETS
Single game tickets for Mizzou baseball begin at just $8 for adult general admission seats and $10 for reserved chairbacks.
To purchase season or single-game tickets, visit MUTigers.com/Tickets.
PITCHING PROBABLES
Friday – LHP Tony Neubeck (4-1, 4.46 ERA) vs. RHP Brandon Smith (2-3, 3.77 ERA)
Saturday – RHP Spencer Miles (2-4, 6.50 ERA) vs. RHP Preston Johnson (3-2, 4.47 ERA)
Sunday – TBA vs. RHP Cade Smith (4-2, 3.74 ERA)
SERIES BUSINESS
- Mizzou and Mississippi State meet for just the 12th time in Friday night’s series opener. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 7-4.
- The Tigers took 2-of-3 from the eventual national champions last season in Starkville. Mizzou outlasted the Bulldogs 7-6 in game two of the series before running away with a 16-8 win in the finale.
- The weekend marks just the second-ever visit to Columbia for Miss State. The Tigers took the previous series in CoMo back in 2018.
- Seven of the 11 all-time meetings between the two squads have been decided by two runs or less.
- Mizzou’s longest game in program history also came against Miss State, a 17-inning barnburner in Hoover back in 2013.
TIGERS TURNING TWO
- Mizzou ranks second in the SEC and 18th nationally with 35 double plays on the season.
- The Tigers sit 17th in the country and lead the SEC in turning 0.92 double plays per game.
- 18 of the Tigers’ twin killings have come in SEC play, a mark that leads the conference.
- Nander De Sedas has taken part in 15-of-18 double plays in conference play and 27-of-35 on the season.
- The Tigers turned four double plays over the weekend at LSU, tied for the most in a series this season.
- Mizzou has turned two in five-straight games and has twice turned three double plays this season.
NEUBECK’S NEW ROLE
- After starting his freshman season in the bullpen, lefty Tony Neubeck will make his first start in a series opener on Friday night.
- In five starts, all in SEC action, the rookie has a 4.44 ERA while holding opponents to a .218 BAA.
- He produced a second-straight quality start with 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 K at No. 22 LSU in a no-decision.
- Neubeck has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his five starts.
- The southpaw picked up his first quality start against Kentucky, allowing just two runs on three hits in his seven innings of work.
- Neubeck leads the team with 43 strikeouts on the season and is second in innings pitched with 40.1 worked.
RUSTAD ROLLS IN RELIEF
- Kansas City native Carter Rustad seems to have found his roll with the Tigers out of the bullpen.
- The righty was stellar in helping Mizzou secure the Kentucky series with a season-best 4.2 scoreless innings in relief.
- Rustad fanned five Wildcats in the outing while allowing just three hits.
- The third-year pitcher continued his strong work with 2.1 IP of scoreless baseball at No. 22 LSU.
- Rustad worked three hitless innings on Tuesday at Mo State.
- The righty has not allowed a run in his last 10 innings of work.
- In relief this season, Rustad owns a 3.03 ERA in 11 appearances. His 28 strikeouts out of the ‘pen are tied for the team lead.
- He’s been even better in SEC action, posting a 1.76 ERA in seven appearances. He has not allowed an earned run in 5-of-7 SEC outings.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
- Mississippi State has won back-to-back series entering the weekend after taking 2-of-3 from rival Ole Miss.
- The Bulldogs hit .273 as a team, led by Brad Cumbest at .331 with 10 doubles and 12 homers. Hunter Hines paces Miss State with 44 RBI on the season while RJ Yeager adds 38.
- State’s 75 homers are eighth nationally.
- The Bulldogs excel defensively, ranking second nationally with a .984 fielding percentage.
- Saturday starter Preston Johnson ranks 11th nationally with 13.9 K/9 inn.
- As a staff, Mississippi State owns a 4.98 ERA on the season and a 6.01 ERA in league action.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For all the latest information on Mizzou Baseball, please visit MUTigers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Tigers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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