After a disappointing season-opening series against Seton Hall, Missouri got back in the groove this past weekend and averaged a touch above 11 hits per game en route to a four-game sweep of Hofstra.
Mizzou wrapped up its trip to Florida 7–2 overall and will return to Taylor Stadium on Wednesday for the 2016 home opener. Here are five things we learned about the Tigers from their series against the Pride:
**The Florida road trip is critical for the program**
The annual road trip the Tigers take to open up the season is notable for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it’s an excellent recruiting pitch. Whether the Tigers are wheels up to Texas, North Carolina and Tennessee (2015) or Florida (2016), these mainly neutral-site games against various mid-major schools pose an enticing factor for recruits.
Who doesn’t want to go on the road with their teammates and play a handful of games at spring training complexes and live it up on the beaches? Not to mention, Mizzou has fared well on these past two trips: 10–1 in 2015 and 7–2 in 2016. Winning certainly helps the cause.
**Jamieson might have his lineup figured out**
The Tigers’ lineup got excellent production throughout the order against Hofstra as Mizzou outscored the Pride 33–8 and outhit them 45–27 over the four-game stretch. Given, this was a small sample with a new lineup and a sample against a Hofstra team that is still winless on the season, but it’s still refreshing to see the Tigers punch across runs at will throughout a weekend series.
Coach Tim Jamieson slipped Ryan Howard down to the No. 2 slot in the order after Howard batted leadoff last weekend. The junior shortstop had his seven-game hitting streak to start the season snapped in the first game of the Saturday doubleheader, but the Tigers did not miss his offense much. Freshman right fielder Connor Brumfield had himself quite a weekend, going 9-for-17 at the plate with three doubles and eight RBI. He capped off his impressive weekend with a walk-off single in the 10th inning of the series finale. The bottom three of freshman two-way player Brian Sharp, sophomore third baseman Shane Benes and freshman second baseman Ian Nelson also posed threats.
If the Tigers can continue to get the sort of up-and-down production throughout the order as they did against Hofstra, it will lessen the pressure on guys like Howard, junior center fielder Jake Ring, sophomore catcher Brett Bond and senior first baseman Zach Lavy, allowing them to take more patient approaches.
**The Tigers will be among the most aggressive teams on the basepaths**
It’s evident through the first two weekends of the season that Mizzou plans to be aggressive — and then some — on the basepaths. Against Hofstra, the Tigers picked up another six stolen bases in six attempts, helping to put runners in scoring position and manufacturing pressure on opposing pitchers. Mizzou is up to 16 stolen bases in 18 attempts on the season, a success rate of nearly 89 percent.
At some times, it might appear to be an overly aggressive strategy, but against some of these mid-majors, it’s something the Tigers can take advantage of. We’ll see how they fare once they face some stronger arms from the backstop in the SEC.
**Brian Sharp will be a treat to watch**
It’s not often that two-way players come around. Freshman Brian Sharp is one of them, and he’s been instrumental in the Tigers’ early-season success. Sharp, a graduate of Liberty North High School in Liberty, Missouri, has been among Mizzou’s most impressive performers in 2016. After picking up a midweek save against Florida International, Sharp continued his hot play against Hofstra. At the plate, Sharp went 5 for 12 with five runs scored and four RBI. On the mound, he picked up the win in the series finale after tossing 3.2 shutout innings of relief work. He allowed just two hits and fanned three.
Most importantly, he kept the Pride at bay in the later frames, allowing the Tigers to stay within striking distance and come back to win the game in extras. Coach Jamieson is giving Sharp plenty of looks at the plate, in the field and out of the bullpen in the early going, and it will be interesting to watch his development throughout the season.
**Austin Tribby has the stamina to be a reliable starting pitcher**
Senior southpaw Austin Tribby earned his first start of the season in the nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader. Although he struggled in the early part of the game, allowing a pair of runs in the first three innings, Tribby settled in for a nice performance. He collected the win in an 11–4 Tigers’ victory, tossing six innings of three-run baseball. The six innings set a career high for Tribby, who has primarily served as a reliever throughout his collegiate career but made the transition to starter this offseason while pitching for the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod League. He also set a new career mark for strikeouts with eight.
In order for the Tigers to be successful this season, they’ll need a pitcher or two behind redshirt senior Reggie McClain and sophomore Tanner Houck capable of giving them six innings in a given midweek effort or Sunday stint. They don’t need guys like Tribby and freshman Michael Plassmeyer, both of whom are competing for the third spot in the rotation, to give them much. Coach Jamieson is just asking for a guy who can limit the amount of arms used out of a shaky, inexperienced bullpen.
** Next up **
Mizzou will play against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-7) at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Taylor Stadium. It is the 2016 home opener for the Tigers, who begin a 12-game homestand. Last season, Mizzou split a two-game series with the Golden Lions. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network + as well as KTGR.
_Edited by Alec Lewis | alewis@themaneater.com_