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Bears travel to SE Missouri to take on the RedHawks for two 2pm games on Tue/Wed this week.

SEMO is 5-2 with road wins over UL-Lafayette (4-2,9-1) and home wins over Harris-Stowe (3-0) and Ball State (12-7 and 22-8). Loss are to ULL and Ball State.

Some season stats:

BA: .276 vs .279 opponents
Slugging: .362 v .368 opponents
13 extra base hits out of 54 hits
13-18 stolen bases (opponents 8-12)
12 errors (.960)

Michael Adams leads in hitting with 14-30 (.476) and 8 RBIs

Team ERA of 2.45 with 29/47 BB/KO ratio

4-0 when leading after 6 innings

Should be a good road test.

After UCA, SEMO plays UALR in LR on 3/8-9; then home and home with ASU on 4/5 and 4/19; then two at Fayetteville on 5/3-4 vs uaf.

I think more important than wins and losses, even though 2 W's would be absolutely fantastic, is the development of younger players who haven't been into game situations much, or even at all. Also, getting some of the regulars more at bats to see more pitches, and maybe most importantly getting a lot of young arms into the game to get some game experience.

Conventional wisdom in college baseball has been that teams used mid-week games to get their inexperienced pitchers time on the mound. In the power conferences, that has changed due to RPI being such a big part of post-season bids. However, as it relates to the current coaching staff, it is unlikely that a team can win 77% of its games over a five year period by pitching freshmen on a regular basis, so it will be interesting to see who throws over the next couple of days.

SEMO has a good program and will be the toughest opponent they've met so far this season.

Top of 10th inning. 5-5

Bears were leading 5-2 until the 8th.

Top of 11th 5-5.

SEMO wins 6-5. 11th

Teams were jawing at end of game and refused to shake hands.

That stinks on both accounts. Need to show good sportsmanship win or lose.

If it is the same SEMO head coach that was at W. Alabama when I played he kind of encouraged his players to run their mouths and play with an attitude.

I agree about the sportsmanship, HOWEVER, if you are trying to identify yourself as a meaningful opponent that is serious about the task at hand you have to give back what you are given. I always told my sons to be a gentleman, if the other side persists in their arrogance or attitude, give sportsmanship one more chance. If the attitude persists, you have to stand up for yourself but do your fighting on the field and win by kicking their ____. Then go the extra mile and try and make things right. I kind of like it that our guys did not like the taste of defeat! It is amazing to me how focus and discipline and attention to detail can make such a difference. Go Bears AND BE GOOD SPORTS!

I don't think you shake hands until after the series is over.

I was just repeating what the radio announcer said. Said both teams were out of their dugouts and a some players were arguing and ushered off the field by their teammates.

Today at 2:00 got a little more interesting.
We were limited in our hitting, but were able to score 5 runs off of it.

how about JD hitting a 2 run HR in his first official at bat as a UCA Bear in his first start? Kinda nice! I know he got hit by a pitch opening weekend, but not bad in your first AB of your first career start to go yard. I believe Drew 'Bex' Trout is starting today, but I'm not 100% sure of that as of yet, but I'm fairly certain it is. Guess we'll find out in a couple of hours. It was also good to get Lowery & Youngblood on the mound for the 1st time, too, yesterday.

In reviewing the stats from today's game, one stat that jumped out is that all 10 of SEMO's RBIs occurred with 2 outs. May be a sign of the relatively inexperienced group that threw for the Bears today.