To say that Missouri has had a rocky start to the Big 12 season would be an understatement.

The Tigers are in the midst of an eight-game losing streak and have stumbled out to a dismal 1-7 start to the conference season. They have suffered series sweeps at the hands of Texas and Oklahoma State the last two weekends and are reeling going into a home series against rival Kansas starting on Friday.

One of the major culprits during this latest rough patch has been a lack of proficiency at the plate, especially with runners in scoring position. The Tigers are averaging a microscopic two runs per game during the losing streak, a number that is largely representative of the team’s inability to find hits in key moments. Sophomore first basemen Scott Sommerfeld says that while the team often works in situations with runners in scoring position in practice, that work needs to translate in games.

“We work all the time in practice with guys in scoring position. There’s a big gap we need to fill and work on. With more confidence in everything we do, day in and day out, that’s going to help us produce,” Sommerfeld said.

Despite their recent poor play, players are trying to maintain a positive outlook going into this weekend’s “Border Showdown.” Senior outfielder Jonah Schmidt says that being able to rely on his teammates helps him stay upbeat.

“It’s tough to stay positive,” Schmidt said. “It’s not easy, especially when you’re going through the streak we’re going through,” Schmidt said. “But I live with these guys; I see them every day. We just look to each other to stay positive and come out ready to play.”

Coach Tim Jamieson further stressed the need for the team to stay inspired and enthusiastic, and said that there’s no reason the Tigers shouldn’t be excited to play the remainder of their Big 12 schedule.

“It’s Division I baseball. The sun is going to come out tomorrow,” Jamieson said. “It’s an opportunity to play a game at the highest level. If that can’t motivate you, then it’s difficult to find anything else that will”.

Although they have undoubtedly started slow, there’s still a lot for the Tigers to look forward to in the near future. Four of the Tigers’ six remaining Big 12 opponents are currently in the bottom half of the league’s standings (Baylor, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Nebraska). Missouri took their lumps against traditional powerhouses Texas, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State early in conference play, but this upcoming stretch will serve as an opportunity to climb the Big 12 ranks.

However, that all starts with a crucial home series against the Jayhawks this weekend at Taylor Stadium. The Tigers have dropped five straight games to Kansas, including a 7-1 loss at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City earlier this season. Sommerfeld says that ending that skid is the first step towards finishing the season on a high note.

“We hate losing to those guys,” Sommerfeld said. “With the five-game skid, hopefully we’ll turn that around. We have to continue being the aggressor, because it’s not how you start but how you finish. With the back-end of the season that’s what matters, and I think Kansas will be a good jump start for that.”