Junior Kyle Gibson
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Missouri’s pitching staff will be led by junior Kyle Gibson, who in his two previous years with the Tigers has a record of 17-7 and an ERA of 3.97. He was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection last year and has been named a 2009 Preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball. At 6-6, Gibson is a hard-throwing right-hander that has the ability to dominate on the mound.
After making 22 appearances as a freshman in 2008, sophomore Nick Tepesch will be looked upon to step into the Tigers’ weekend rotation. He picked up four saves for Missouri last season and closed out two shutouts. With the exception of one start against Nebraska last May, Tepesch spent his first season at MU coming out of the bullpen. Like Gibson, Tepesch is an imposing figure on the mound, standing 6-5.
Senior Ian Berger has started 23 games for the Tigers in his career and last year ranked 20th in the Big 12 with an ERA of 4.54. At one point during the 2008 season, he had a span of 26.1 scoreless innings pitched. Berger has been a consistent force on the mound, totaling nine wins in his first two seasons. He will be among the likely starters for the Tigers this year.
A pair of senior left-handers will lead the Mizzou bullpen, as Scooter Hicks and Ryan Gargano each enter their third year at Missouri. Hicks opens the 2009 season with 11 career saves, which is tied for the sixth most in school history. He led the Tigers with 24 appearances out of the bullpen last year, while Gargano has 31 appearances to his name over the previous two seasons.
Another junior, Ryan Allen, made 22 appearances out of the bullpen last season, which was second most on the team behind Hicks. Allen struck out 32 batters in 30 innings pitched in 2008.
Junior Greg Folgia spent the majority of the 2008 season as MU’s second baseman, but is expected to see more time on the mound this year. He pitched in 26 games as a freshman in 2007, before making just five appearances on the hill last season. He will also see time in the field for Missouri, as he has been penciled in as one of the possible starters in the outfield.
Junior Andrew Mueller has pitched in three games in two seasons with the Tigers and sophomore Phil McCormick struck out three in his first inning pitched as a Tiger last year and appeared in four games in relief in 2008.
A trio of sophomores, Kelly Fick, Brad Buehler and Tyler Clark, will be looked upon to make an impact for the Tigers after each gained valuable experience in their freshman campaigns. Fick appeared in 13 games last year as a freshman and started three times. He will look to challenge for a starting spot in his sophomore season.
Buehler and Clark each pitched in 11 games in their freshmen seasons. Buehler started three times and earned a victory over South Dakota State, while Clark struck out 15 batters in 10 innings pitched.
Brian Carr, Ryan Clubb and Jeff Emens are three freshmen that will look to help the MU pitching staff. Carr was a two-time all-state selection at Sandra Day O’Conner High School in Phoenix, while Clubb had an ERA of 1.67 in his career at Eureka (Mo.) High School. Emens compiled a record of 11-4 for Plano (Texas) East High School, striking out 12 batters. He could also see playing time in the infield for the Tigers.
Freshman Garrison McLagan joined the Tigers at the start of the spring semester after graduating from Columbia’s Christian Fellowship School.
